nstarital 


W 


THE 


GERMAN  ALLIED  TROOPS 


IN  THE 


North  American  War  of  Independence, 


1776-1783. 


TRANSLATE)!)  AND  ABRIDGED  FROM  THE  GERMAN  OF 

MAX   VON   ^ELKING, 

Captain  Saxon-Meiningen  Army ;    Member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  New    York. 


BY 


J.  G.  ROSENGARTEN. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y.: 

JOEL  MUNSELL'S  SONS,  PUBLISHERS, 
1893- 


THE  GERMAN  ALLIES  IN  THE  AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION,   1776-1783. 


BY  MAX  VON   EELKING, 

Captain  in  the  Saxon-Meiningen  Army,  and  Corresponding  Member  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  New  York. 


"SUUM  CUfQUE.' 


TRANSLATED  (AND  ABRIDGED)  FROM  THE  GERMAN. 


NOTE. — Published  in  Hanover,  in  1863,  in  two  volumes,  of  pp.  379  and  pp. 
271,  this  book  still  remains  full  of  interesting  details  as  to  the  German  troops 
serving  in  America.  Leaving  out  all  that  relates  to  the  general  history  of  the 
Revolution,  there  is  much  that  is  likely  to  have  value  for  special  students  of 
American  history,  and  to  them  these  pages  are  submitted  as  a  contribution  that 
cannot  but  serve  to  give  a  better  idea  of  the  actual  facts  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
German  soldiers  in  the  British  army,  in  the  struggle  for  American  independence, 
than  can  easily  be  gathered  from  other  sources. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  now  just  eighty  years*  since  the  German 
troops  returned  home  from  the  seven  years'  war 
beyond  the  Atlantic,  in  which  they  had  fought  as 
allies  of  England  against  the  great  American  rising. 
They  are  known  as  the  German  Allied  or  Subsidiary 
Troops.  Since  that  long  and  hard-fought  war,  the 
Union,  with  passing  exceptions,  has  enjoyed  the 
blessings  of  a  long  peace.  Now  a  new  war  is  raging ; 
this  time  the  sword  is  not  drawn  against  a  foreign 
power,  but  between  hitherto  sister  states  —  their  own 
flesh  and  blood.  Again  Germans  are  fighting,  just 
as  before  throwing  their  weight  in  the  balance,  now 
not  for  a  foreign  interest,  but  for  their  own.  Even 
if  nearly  a  century  has  elapsed  between  the  first 
great  war  and  that  now  being  waged,  the  careful 
observer  will  find  much  resemblance  between  the 
war  of  that  day  and  the  present  war.  Let  us  look, 
however,  at  the  subject  we  have  in  hand.  While  we 
find  in  other  campaigns  in  which  German  soldiers 

*The  original  was  published  in  Hanover  in  1863. 


8  Preface. 

have  taken  part  the  results  gained  by  them  more  or 
less  fully  described,  there  is  wanting,  in  the  most 
marked  way,  the  history  of  the  share  they  took  in 
the  war  of  the  American  Revolution.  There  has 
been  plenty  of  time  to  fill  this  void,  but  hitherto  it 
has  not  been  attempted  in  any  complete  form.  In 
the  literature  of  Germany  it  has  appeared  only  in 
separate  accounts  in  historical  works  and  periodicals. 
Even  this  proportionately  brief  material  is  not  only 
small  in  bulk,  but  is,  for  the  most  part,  either  of 
particular  portions  of  the  forces  engaged,  or  from 
ignorance,  or  by  accident,  it  is  erroneous.  The  ab 
sence  of  any  complete  or  impartial  story  is  noteworthy 
in  the  present  wealth  of  German  history.  Hitherto 
the  archives  in  which  the  original  documents  were 
preserved  have  been  jealously  closed  to  the  world. 
There  is,  however,  abundance  of  other  material  in 
the  journals  and  correspondence  of  the  principal 
leaders,  of  officers  and  private  soldiers,  who  shared  in 
the  war.  Most  of  them  wrote  with  no  expectation 
that  their  pages  would  ever  be  made  public,  and 
plainly  put  down  what  was  seen  and  what  was  heard. 
The  value  to  be  ascribed  to  such  material  is  to  be 
seen  in  its  use  in  modern  works  on  the  history  of 
recent  wars.  To  gather  such  material  has  been  no 
light  labor.  Much  was  lost,  much  in  family  papers 


Preface.  9 

not  willingly  given  to  strangers.  The  reader  will  see 
in  the  following  pages  what  has  been  obtained  in 
various  parts  of  Germany  and  from  various  sources. 
It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  author  to  give  a  general 
view,  avoiding  repetition,  and  emphasizing  the  part — 
a  subordinate  one,  of  course — taken  by  the  German 
troops,  but  allowing  the  German  writers  to  tell  their 
own  story,  even  when  it  differed  from  the  recognized 
English  and  American  authorities.  He  has  sought 
to  protect  and  restore  the  good  name  and  credit  of 
German  soldiers,  ruthlessly  attacked  on  all  sides  for 
their  share  in  the  American  Revolutionary  War. 
Hard  indeed  was  their  situation — denied  the  privilege 
of  fighting  for  any  national  cause  at  home,  they  were 
reproached  for  taking  part  in  a  foreign  war,  although 
they  did  so  in  strict  obedience  to  the  orders  of  their 
military  and  civil  superiors,  at  risk  of  losing  health, 
discipline,  and  even  honor,  and  it  is  only  right  that 
their  deeds  should  speak  for  them  and  give  the  true 
version,  even  at  this  late  day,  of  their  share  in  the 
events  here  described. 


MANUSCRIPT  AUTHORITIES. 


A.  Hessian  :  (i)  Journal  of  Captain  v.  Miinchhausen, 
from  the  time  of  his  appointment  as  Howe's  Adju 
tant,  18  November,  1776,  to  22  May,  1778. 

(2)  Correspondence  of  Col.  v.  Heeringen,  Capt.  Bur- 

meister,  and  other  Hessian  officers. 

(3)  Journal  of  an  expedition  under  General  Clinton 

to  the  Southern  Colonies,  from  18  December, 
1779,  to  8  August,  1780. 

(4)  Diary  of  Captain  Friedrich  v.  d.  Malsburg,  of  the 

v.  Ditfurth  Regiment,  from  February,  1776,  to 
1 6  November,  1780. 

(5)  Diary  of  Captain  v.  Dinklage,  of  the  Guard  Regi 

ment,  from  14  January,  1776,  to  29  May,  1784. 

(6)  Journal  of  the  most  noteworthy  incidents  of  the 

Hereditary  Prince  Regiment,  begun  in  February, 
1776,  when  it  went  to  America,  ended  May,  1784, 
on  its  return  to  Marburg,  by  Regimental  Quar 
termaster  Lotheisen. 

(7)  History  of  the  Fusilier  Regiment  v.  Lossberg,  in 

a  diary,  begun  1776,  down  to  1783,  kept  by  the 
Hessian  Lieutenant  Biel  (Rail's  Adjutant). 

(8)  Diary  of  Lieutenant  Wiederhold  (of  Rail's  Regi 

ment),  afterwards  Captain  of  v.  Knyphausen's 
Regiment,  from  7  October,  1776,  to  7  December, 
1780. 


12  Manuscript  Authorities. 

(9)  Diary  of  the  voyage  of  the  8th  Hessian  Recruit 

Transport  to  America,  from  10  April  to  28  Octo 
ber,  1782. 

(10)  Journal  from  the  arrival  of  the  French  Fleet  in 
Rhode  Island,  1779,  to  22  May,  1784,  by  a  Hes 
sian  officer. 

(u)  Journal  of  Lieutenant  Riiffer,  from   i   March, 
1776,  to  28  December,  1777. 

(12)  Species  facti  of  the  surprise  and  capture  of  three 
Hessian  Regiments,  v.  Knyphausen,  v.  Lossburg 
and  Rail  (now  Wollwarth),  26  December,  1776. 
Philadelphia,  19  March,  1778.     Schaffer. 

(13)  Species  facti  of  the  surprise  and  capture  of  Rail's 
Brigade   at  Trenton,  26   December,  1776,  espe 
cially  Rail's   (now  Wollwarth's)   Regiment ;   by 
J.  Matthaus  (Major). 

(14)  Report  of  the  capture  of  Rail's  Brigade  in  Tren 
ton,  26  December,  1776.    Phila.,  20  March,  1778. 
Baum,  Staff  Captain,  Knyphausen's  Regiment. 

(15)  Reports   of  Captains    of  Engineers   Pauli  and 
Martin-  and   Lieutenant  Biel,  on  the   events  at 
Newport. 

(16)  Report  of  a  Hessian  officer  of  the  surprise  at 
Trenton. 

(17)  Letters  of  Lieut.  Henkelmann,  of  Seitz's  Regi 
ment,  to  relatives  at  home,  and  some  extracts 
from  his  diary. 

(18)  Letters  of  Adjutant  Henel. 

(19)  Letters  of  Captain  Ries,  of  Lossberg's  Regiment. 

(20)  Letters  of  Sergeant  Flockshaar. 


Manuscript  Authorities.  13 

(21)  Part  of  a  diary  of  non-commissioned  officer  Cas 
per  Recknagel. 

(22)  Diary  of  non-commissioned   officer  Reuber,   of 
Rail's  Regiment,  from   i  January,  1776,  to  29 
December,  1783. 

(23)  History  of  the  Yager  Battalion,  by  Capt.  Mahl- 
burger.     [A  few  copies  only  lithographed.] 

B.  Brunswick:  (i)  Papers  left  by  Lt.-Gen.  v.  Riede- 
sel  at  Eisenbach. 

(2)  Journal  of  the  Brunswick  Troops,  from  22  Febru 

ary,  1776,  to  15  January,  1779,  kept  by  Quarter 
master-General  Gebhardt. 

(3)  Journal  of  Col.  v.  Specht,  from  the  voyage  to  the 

capitulation  at  Saratoga. 

(4)  Correspondence  of  Major  Cleve,  Riedesel's  first 

Adjutant,  and  Captain  Tunderfeld. 

(5)  Journal  of  Captain  Ranzau,  from  8  April,  1777, 

to  29  August,  1778. 

(6)  Journal  of   Schuler,  from   15   May  to  20  June, 

1776. 

(7)  Journal  of  the  voyage  from  Portsmouth  to  Quebec, 

and  from  there  to  the  Southern  Colonies,  and 
thence  of  the  return  to  Europe,  by  C.  v.  Schuler, 
known  as  v.  Senden.  [The  journal  begins  23 
June,  1776,  and  ends  April,  1781.  An  extract 
was  printed  in  1839,  in  the  "  Journal  for  Art, 
Science  and  History  of  War,"  vol.  47.  Schuler 
v.  Senden  died  a  Prussian  General  of  Division.] 

(8)  Journal  of  the  Field  Chaplain  Melzheimer. 


14  Manuscript  Authorises. 

(9)  Journal  of  Major  Cleve  of  his  imprisonment,  1779. 

(10)  Journal  of  the  Voyage  to  America  and  of  Three 
Campaigns  there,  from  15  May,  1776,  to  10  Oc 
tober,  1783,  including  the  return  to  Wolffenbiit- 
tel,  by  Frederick  Julius  v.  Papet,  First  Lieuten 
ant  of  the  v.  Rhetz  Regiment,  and,  since  20  No 
vember,   1777,    Brigade   Major  of  the   German 
Troops  in  Canada.     [Two  stout  volumes.] 

(n)  Journal  of  Corporal  Scheither. 

C.  Waldeck:  (i)   Short  Description  of  the  Journey 

and  Campaign  of  the  Third  Regiment  to  Amer 
ica,  from  20  May,  1776,  until  its  return  in  1783, 
by  Carl  Philipp  Stetiernagel,  Quartermaster  of 
the  Regiment,  of  Captain  Teutzel's  Company. 
(2)  Diary  of  the  Third  Waldeck  Regiment,  by  Ph. 
Waldeck,  Chaplain. 

D.  Ansbach-Bayreuth :  March,  route  and  description 

of  the  most  remarkable  events  in  America,  by 
John  Conral  Dohla,  of  Zell — described  to  a  for 
mer  companion  in  arms.  [Dohla  was  a  school 
teacher.] 

E.  Anhalt-Zerbst :  History  of  the  Zerbst  Regiment 

in  the  English  service  during  the  American  War. 
[This  Ms.  gives  the  history  of  the  Regiment 
from  1776  to  1793.  The  part  relating  to  the 
war  in  America  is  from  the  diary  of  a  member 
of  the  regiment  who  took  part  in  the  events  it 
describes.] 


THE  TREATIES. 


The  American  armies  were  recruited  by  the  help 
of  liberal  promises.  Twenty  dollars  and  one  hun 
dred  acres  of  land  were  guaranteed  every  private  and 
non-commissioned  officer.  Recruits  could  be  got 
only  by  bounties  and  pay.  The  Germans  were  used 
to  being  sent  outside  their  own  country  to  serve 
under  foreign  flags,  but  the  money  paid  for  their  ser 
vices  went  to  their  sovereigns.  Those  sent  to  Amer 
ica  brought  home  much  useful  knowledge  of  actual 
war,  and  the  Hessians  and  Brunswickers,  who  had 
fought  in  America,  were  among  the  best  soldiers  in 
the  German  army  during  the  wars  of  the  French 
Revolution.  Their  operations  in  America  were 
closely  followed  at  home ;  newspapers  and  journals 
were  filled  with  their  letters. 

A  Hessian  officer  who  had  served  as  adjutant 
with  Donop  and  Knyphausen,  wrote  afterwards : 
"  No  one  found  fault  with  our  going  into  the  Brit 
ish  service  for  pay,"  and  none  of  the  officers 
or  men  complained.  There  were  many  volunteers, 
especially  in  Hesse,  among  them  v.  Ochs,  later  Gen 
eral,  and  in  the  letters  home,  from  soldiers  and  offi 
cers,  there  was  no  complaint,  but  all  showed  a  thor- 


t6  The  Treaties. 

oughly  German  spirit  of  discipline  wherever  they 
were  ordered. 

When  England  found  its  need  of  allies,  it  natur 
ally  turned  to  its  old  comrades  of  the  Seven  Years' 
War.  Hesse  Cassel  and  Brunswick  were  first 
approached.  George  the  III.  wrote  to  their  princes 
-the  wives  were  both  English  princesses  —  and 
offered  not  only  a  subsidy  for  their  troops,  but 
treaties  of  alliance  and  protection,  for  it  was  easily 
to  be  anticipated  that  France  would  side  with  the 
rebels  and  threaten  Germany.  The  troops  from 
Hanover  were  sent,  five  battalions,  to  Gibraltar, 
relieving  English  soldiers  sent  to  America.  Hesse 
Hanau  and  Waldeck  joined  the  other  German  allies. 

Toward  the  end  of  1775,  Col.  William  Faucit,  of 
the  Guards,  came  to  Germany  to  make  the  Treaties 
for  the  allied  forces.  On  January  9,  1776,  that  with 
Brunswick  was  signed,  on  the  i5th  that  with  the 
Hessian  government,  and  on  the  5th  of  February 
that  with  Hanau  ;  that  with  Waldeck  had  been  made 
in  London  on  April  25,  1775.  Hesse  Cassel  agreed 
to  supply  fifteen  Regiments,  each  of  five  Companies, 
four  Grenadier  Battalions,  two  Yager  Companies, 
and  some  artillery,  in  all  12,500  men.  Brunswick 
promised  a  corps  of  4,000  men,  four  Infantry,  one 
Dragoon,  Regiments,  one  Grenadier,  and  one  Light 
Infantry  Battalion.  Hesse  Hanau  promised  one  In 
fantry  Regiment  and  some  artillery,  in  all  900  men ; 
Waldeck,  one  Regiment  750  strong. 

The  three  treaties  were  printed  at  Frankfort  and 


The  Treaties.  17 

Leipsic  in  1776,  and  in  the  Parliamentary  Transac 
tions,  Nos.  17  and  18.  For  each  man  England 
agreed  to  pay  thirty  marks  hand  money,  one-third 
one  month  after  the  execution  of  the  Treaties,  the 
balance  within  two  months.  For  every  man  killed, 
wounded  or  captured,  or  made  unserviceable  by 
wounds  or  sickness,  a  like  sum  was  to  be  paid,  and 
like  provision  was  made  for  those  lost  in  sieges  or 
by  infectious  disease  or  on  shipboard,  but  for  desert 
ers  no  compensation  was  to  be  made. 

To  meet  the  heavy  expenses  of  so  quickly  equip 
ping  so  large  a  force,  England  paid  in  advance  for 
two  months,  besides  all  the  transportation  from  the 
first  day's  march.  The  Brunswick  Treaty  provides 
that  the  subsidy  should  begin  to  run  from  the  date 
of  its  execution  at  the  rate  of  64,500  German  thalers, 
as  long  as  the  soldiers  received  pay,  and  when  that 
ended,  it  was  to  be  doubled,  and  this  129,000  thalers 
should  be  paid  for  two  years  after  the  return  home  of 
the  troops.  They  were  to  take  an  oath  of  service  to 
the  King  of  England,  thus  putting  them  under 
double  allegiance  to  their  own  sovereign  and  to  that 
of  Great  Britain.  Their  own  princes  were  to  supply 
equipments  and  keep  up  the  standard  by  new  re 
cruits,  and  were  to  maintain  their  legal  control  over 
their  subjects.  Food  and  clothing  were  to  be  sup 
plied  just  as  to  the  British  army.  The  forage  money 
paid  to  the  officers  was  a  handsome  addition  to  their 
regular  pay.  Gen.  v.  Riedesel,  who  was  of  an  eco 
nomical  turn  of  mind,  was  said  to  have  saved  15,000 
3 


1 8  The  Treaties. 

thalers  from  this  source  on  his  return  to  Brunswick. 
This  was  the  tenth  treaty  of  the  kind  that  Hesse 
had  made  since  the  seventeenth  century.  The  King 
of  England  pledged  himself,  in  case  of  great  loss  in 
any  regiment,  to  equalize  its  strength  as  best  he  could 
with  the  others.  With  Brunswick  and  Hesse  Cassel 
he  specially  agreed  to  employ  their  soldiers  only  in 
the  North  American  Continent,  and  not  in  the  un 
wholesome  West  Indies.  It  is  not  easy  to  ascertain 
the  exact  amounts  paid  by  England  to  Germany 
under  these  treaties,  for  the  details  were  kept  secret, 
although  the  public  approval  by  Parliament  annually 
shows  that  the  following  were  about  the  amounts 
thus  voted,  viz. : 

Hesse  Cassel,  eight  years,    .     .     .  ^2,959,800. 

Brunswick,                               .     .     .  750,000. 

Hesse  Hanau,     "                   ...  343,130. 

Waldeck,              "                    .     .     .  140,000. 

Ansbach-Bayreuth,  seven  years,    .  282,400. 

Anhalt-Zerbst,  six  years,       .     .     .  109,120. 

As  these  subsidies  were  to  continue  for  two  years 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  that  would  be  ^1,150,000. 
The  bounty  for  20,000  men  at  ^6,  would  be  ^fi  20,000. 
The  Artillery  received  an  additional  ^28,000,  and  the 
annual  subsistence  cost  ^70,000.  Altogether,  with 
additional  allowances,  ^850,000  annually  must  have 
been  paid  to  the  German  princes  for  their  soldiers, 
out  of  which,  of  course,  they  paid  the  expense  of 
equipping,  keeping  their  arms,  etc. 


The  Treaties.  19 

The  Treaty  with  Hesse  Cassel  was  even  better  for 
that  prince  than  that  with  Brunswick  or  Hanau,  and 
Cassel  received  yearly  ^50,000  more  than  it  ever  got 
before  for  the  same  number  of  its  soldiers. 

Baron  v.  Schlieffen  made  a  special  visit  to  London 
on  behalf  of  Cassel — he  was  an  old  soldier,  had  served 
in  the  Seven  Years'  War  in  command  of  Hessian 
troops,  and  was  Adjutant  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick, 
and  was  as  good  in  using  his  pen  as  with  his  sword ; 
his  Memoirs  have  been  highly  commended  by  later 
historians.  When  he  went  to  London,  the  only  man 
in  the  English  Ministry  he  knew  was  Lord  George 
Germain,  who,  as  Lord  Sackville,  had  been  discredited 
by  his  conduct  in  the  Seven  Years'  War.  Schlieffen, 
however,  gained  such  a  foothold  with  the  Secretary 
of  State,  Lord  Suffolk,  that  he  was  able  to  recover  for 
Cassel  ^40,000,  an  old  claim  for  hospital  moneys 
spent  in  the  Seven  Years'  War. 

An  offer  of  an  additional  sum,  as  compensation 
to  Cassel  for  Schlieffen's  services  in  rescuing  the 
great  magazine  at  Osnabruch,  and  thus  helping  to 
win  the  victory  at  Minden,  was  refused,  but  he 
secured  for  himself  the  honor  of  maintaining  his 
independence  and  personal  honesty,  and  for  his 
native  country  a  welcome  increase  of  the  growing 
reserve  in  its  well-stocked  treasury. 

The  later  debates  in  the  British  Parliament  often 
turned  on  the  avarice  of  the  German  princes  in 
thus  securing  the  payment  of  old  claims,  in  addi 
tion  to  the  liberal  amounts  paid  for  the  subsidies 


2O  The   Treaties. 

given  by  treaty ;  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
England  was  in  trie  position  of  asking  for  help,  and 
the  Germans  were  not  offering  it,  so  that  of  course 
the  latter  were  justified  in  making  the  best  terms 
they  could. 


CHAPTER    I. 


The  German  Princes,  who  had  promised  their  help 
to  the  King  of  England,  after  the  execution  of  the 
Treaties  providing  for  subsidies,  completed  the  mili 
tary  organizations  and  prepared  them  for  their  long 
journey.  The  Elector  of  Hesse,  Frederic  II.,*  whose 
arsenals  were  well  filled,  and  whose  troops  were  always 
ready,  was  the  most  active,  and  by  the  end  of  Febru 
ary  his  Regiments  were  in  Cassel,  prepared  to  start. 

As  the  departure  of  the  troops  depended  on  the 
arrival  of  the  transport  ships,  the  time  of  waiting 
was  used  in  exercising  the  soldiers,  in  reorganiza 
tion,  and  in  preparing  the  recruits  and  the  men  who 
had  joined  after  a  long  leave  of  absence.  In  spite 
of  the  weather,  the  men  were  drilled  daily,  often  in 
deep  snow.  Every  effort  was  made  to  adopt  the 
English  system ;  the  Grenadier  companies,  which 
had  been  distributed  among  the  Musketeer  and 

*[NOTE  I. — The  Elector  Frederic  II.,  then  fifty-six  years  old,  was  not  unpop 
ular  in  his  country,  which  he  had  enriched  by  many  benevolent  institutions  and 
by  others  for  art  and  science.  He  is  unjustly  reproached  with  avarice — a  charge 
which  belongs  to  his  son  and  successor.  As  he  gave  the  largest  contingent  for 
the  allied  army  sent  across  the  Atlantic,  and  derived  the  greatest  pecuniary  ben 
efit,  he  drew  down  on  himself  the  most  reproaches,  which  often  exceeded  his 
deserts.  He  was  better  than  his  reputation.  He  died  soon  after  the  War,  in 
1785.] 


22  The    German   Allies 

Fusilier  battalions,  were  formed  in  fonr  independent 
bodies.  A  Grenadier  Regiment  was  organized  of 
men  picked  from  the  different  infantry  regiments, 
and  as  good  riflemen  were  in  demand  by  the  English 
authorities,  the  Yager  battalions  were  increased.  The 
Regiments,  according  tp  .the  English  system,  were 
very  weak — each  with  an  average  of  633 — and  in  the 
reports,  etc.,  the  same  force  is  sometimes  described 
as  a  regiment,  sometimes  as  a  battalion ;  the  propor 
tion  of  officers  was  unusually  large. 
Each  Infantry  Regiment  had 

21  Commissioned  Officers, 

60  Non-Commissioned  Officers, 
5  Non-Coinbatant  Officers, 

22  Musicians, 
525  Men. 

Each  Grenadier  Battalion  had 
1 6  Commissioned  Officers, 
44  Non-Commissioned  Officers, 

i  Non-Combatant  Officer, 
20  Musicians, 
420  Men. 
Each  Yager  Company  had 

4  Commissioned  Officers, 

12  Non-Cotnmissioned  Officers, 
i  Non-Combatant  Officer, 
3  Musicians, 
105  Men. 
Each  Artillery  Company  had 

5  Commissioned  Officers, 


In  the   American   Revolution.  23 

14  Non-Commissioned  Officers, 

1  Non-Combatant  Officer, 

3  Musicians, 
129  Men. 

The  Hessian  Corps,  at  the  outset  of  the  War,  had 
a  strength  of  12,054  men,  besides  staff,  engineer, 
supply  train  and  servant  men.  It  consisted  of 

15  Infantry  Regiments, 

4  Grenadier  Battalions, 

2  Yager  Companies, 

2  Field  Artillery  Companies, 
and  was  organized  in  two  Divisions  and  four  Brigades. 

Gen.  v.  Schlieffen,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  was 
very  earnest  in  his  entreaties  to  be  assigned  the  com 
mand,  but  the  Elector  chose  Lt.-Gen.  Philipp  v.  Heis- 
ter,  an  old  officer  who  had  served  with  distinction  in 
the  Seven  Years'  War. 

Owing  to  want  of  transportation,  only  the  First 
Division,  under  Gen.  v.  Heister,  was  sent  forward — 
it  consisted  of  the  Guard  Regiment,  the  Prince 
Charles  Regiment,  the  Hereditary  Prince's,  Knyp- 
hausen's,  Lossberg's,  Ditfurth's,  Donop's,  Triim- 
bach's,  Mirbach's,  the  Grenadier  Battalions  of  Rail, 
Bloch,  Minnigerode,  and  Linsingen,  a  Yager  Com 
pany,  138  strong,  and  a  Field  Battery,  242  strong. 

The  Elector  inspected  the  Regiments  and  reviewed 
them  as  they  marched  out  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
crowd,  which  cheered  them  heartily.  It  was  not  until 
February  29th  that  they  finally  left,  and  Rail's  Regi 
ment  not  until  March  6th.  On  the  loth  of  March 


24  The   German   Allies 

the  First  Division  marched  through  Bremen  past 
great  numbers  of  spectators.  On  March  2ist  and 
22d,  the  troops  were  mustered  into  the  English  ser 
vice  by  Col.  William  Faucit,  and  on  the  23d  the 
loading  of  the  transports  began,  lasting  until  April 
1 5th.  The  quarters  were  very  crowded,  and  each 
man  had  a  small  mattress,  a  pillow  and  a  woolen 
coverlet,  and  every  six  a  wooden  spoon  and  a  tin  cup. 
The  food  consisted  of  peas  and  bacon  on  Sundays, 
four  pounds  for  six  men  ;  soup,  butter  and  cheese  on 
Mondays  ;  four  pounds  meat,  three  pounds  meal,  one- 
half  pound  raisins,  one-half  pound  suet,  for  pudding. 
This  was  repeated  on  Wednesdays  and  the  rest  of 
the  week.  Every  six  men  received  daily  four  cans  of 
small  beer  and  a  cupful  of  rum,  often  increased  by 
an  exchange  for  bread  and  cheese. 

On  the  1 6th,  Gen.  v.  Heister  went  on  board  the 
Commodore's  ship  "  Elizabeth,"  and  owing  to  the 
lack  of  transportation,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  Rail's 
and  Mirbach's  regiments,  and  154  men  of  Knyp- 
hausen's,  behind.  On  the  lyth  the  fleet  set  sail- 
forty-four  vessels  under  Commodore  Parker.  On  the 
26th  it  reached  Portsmouth,  where  the  English  troops 
already  on  other  vessels,  gave  them  a  hearty  wel 
come.  On  the  28th  divine  service  was  held. —  in 
accordance  with  the  German  piety  of  the  time,  every 
soldier  had  a  prayer  book  in  his  knapsack,  and  men 
and  officers  were  in  the  habit  of  daily  pious  exercises. 

The  English  authorities  urged  the  instant  depart 
ure  of  the  German  division,  but  Heister  tried  hard 


In  the  American  Revolution.  25 

to  secure  delay  until  all  his  troops  were  in  hand,  but 
he  was  obliged  to  yield.  On  May  6th,  the  fleet, 
under  Admiral  Hotham,  consisting  of  150  sail,  finally 
got  under  way ;  the  convoy  consisted  of  six  men-of- 
war  and  two  cruisers.  There  were  12,500  troops  on 
board,  of  which  7,400  were  Hessians. 

The  voyage  was  long,  tedious,  stormy  and  uncom 
fortable.  There  was  a  duel  between  Lieut.  Klein- 
schmidt  and  Capt.  v.  d.  Lippe,  in  which  the  latter  fell. 

On  August  1 7th,  the  fleet  reached  Sandy  Hook, 
and  found  there  the  rest  of  the  German  division,  just 
arrived.  Twelve  men  only  were  lost  on  the  passage, 
but  many  were  sick  with  scorbutic  diseases.  The 
Germans  were  heartily  welcomed,  and  gave  glowing 
descriptions  of  the  harbor  of  New  York  and  the 
adjacent  country. 

The  first  order  was  to  remove  all  silver  from  the 
uniforms,  just  as  the  British  had  already  done,  to 
lessen  the  risk  of  the  American  riflemen,  whose  un 
erring  aim  was  greatly  feared. 

At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  German  troops, 
affairs  stood  about  in  this  position.  On  the  i8th  of 
April,  1775,  the  first  blood  had  been  spilled  at  Lex 
ington,  followed  by  armed  rising  everywhere.  In  the 
North,  Gen.  Carleton,  with  a  small  force,  formed  the 
right  wing  ;  he  had  resisted  an  attack  on  Quebec  dur 
ing  the  winter,  and  was  preparing  to  drive  the  Amer 
icans  back.  In  the  South,  in  Carolina,  the  left  wing 
was  under  Clinton,  sent  to  co-operate  with  Parker's 
fleet,  but  did  nothing  effectual  there.  Howe,  who 
4 


26  The  German  Allies 

had  received  the  general  command  in  place  of  Gage, 
recalled,  was  in  command  of  the  center,  and  by  orders 
from  England,  evacuated  Boston,  tip  to  that  time  the 
only  place  on  the  northern  coast  held  by  the  British. 

He  left  March  i7th,  1776,  and  sailed  to  Halifax, 
bnt  on  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  arrival  of  fresh 
forces  from  Europe,  he  left  Halifax,  on  June  nth, 
and  on  the  29th  reached  Sandy  Hook.  His  plan  was 
to  establish  himself  in  or  near  New  York,  and  to 
unite  all  his  forces.  He  went  to  Staten  Island,  with 
about  9,000  men,  and  there  waited  the  return  of  Clin 
ton  from  the  South  and  the  arrival  of  the  force  com 
ing  from  England. 

The  line  of  operations,  stretching  from  Canada  to 
South  Carolina,  was  out  of  all  proportion  to  the 
strength  at  hand,  and  there  was  no  possibility  of  any 
united  plan  of  action  or  mutual  support.  The  two 
commanders  were  brothers.  Richard,  Lord  Howe,  the 
admiral  and  viscount,  the  elder,  was  active,  energetic 
and  able,  and  had  gained  credit  and  experience  in  his 
service ;  he  looked  with  undisguised  contempt  on  the 
rebels  now  in  arms.  Sir  William  Howe  had  fought 
with  credit  in  the  old  French  War,  and  was  one  of  the 
ablest  and  most  experienced  general  officers  in  the 
British  army ;  he  was  very  unlike  his  brother  in 
manner  —  much  gentler  and  kinder — but  was  not  as 
energetic  and  active ;  indeed,  showed  a  carelessness 
and  negligence,  even  in  weighty  matters,  that  were 
inexcusable. 

The  elder  brother  was  sober  and  self-contained ;  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  27 

younger  social  and  pleasure-loving  —  forgetting  his 
military  duty  in  the  excesses  of  the  table  and  other 
dissipation.  He  had  his  mistress  at  his  side  and  his 
table  was  open  to  all.  He  encouraged  others  to  the 
same  sort  of  life,  and  was  easily  influenced  by  his 
boon  companions.  These  qualities  made  him  popu 
lar  —  were  looked  on  as  chivalric  —  and  even  a  Hes 
sian  officer  said  that  Gen.  Howe  was  worth  more  than 
an  army. 

The  British  government  thought  that  the  two 
brothers  would  work  in  perfect  harmony,  and  took 
credit  for  their  selection. 

Gen.  Howe,  on  the  arrival  of  his  new  forces,  set  on 
foot  his  plan  for  driving  the  enemy  from  Long  Island 
and  New  York.  The  Hessians  were  assigned  their 
part.  The  Brigade  of  v.  Stirn  was  ordered  to  relieve 
the  Thirty-fifth  and  part  of  the  Fifth  English  regi 
ments,  and  take  position  well  forward  on  the  shores 
of  Staaten  Island,  separated  from  the  enemy's  advance 
posts  by  a  narrow  strip  of  water.  The  Brigade  was 
posted  along  the  shore  in  small  detachments,  the 
Guard  Regiment  at  Amboy  Ferry ;  the  camp  was 
placed  in  two  lines,  but  it  had  to  be  moved  to  the 
rear,  to  escape  the  American  riflemen,  -and  the  Artil 
lery  under  Lieut.  Grenke  threw  a  few  shot  into  Am 
boy  to  quiet  the  enemy. 

The  width  of  the  water  was  a  little  over  three  hun 
dred  paces,  and  the  Americans  gathered  on  their  side 
to  watch  the  German  soldiers,  who  were  now  for  the 
first  time  in  sight.  One  of  the  Hessians  said  that 


28  77^  German  Allies 

few  of  the  rebels  were  in  uniform ;  most  of  them 
looked  like  a  mob,  hastily  gathered  together. 

The  arrival  of  the  German  allies  had  spread  no 
little  alarm  among  the  Americans.  The  Germans 
were  greatly  feared,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
had  abandoned  their  homes,  flying  to  New  York  and 
leaving  in  their  houses  many  articles  of  value.  The 
soldiers  were  quartered  in  these  houses  and  were  very 
coolly  received.  Orders  were  given  to  behave  with 
great  propriety,  for  the  hope  of  reconciliation  was 
still  cherished.  When  the  inhabitants  found  that 
they  were  kindly  treated,  the  soldiers  were  well 
treated  and  many  sick  and  wounded  were  well  cared 
for.  The  general  comfort  and  prosperity  of  the 
country,  little  the  worse  for  the  war  that  had  been 
waged,  was  a  constant  subject  of  praise  among  the 
German  troops. 

Gen.  Howe,  with  35,000  soldiers,  well  in  hand, 
out  of  a  total  force  of  55,000  soldiers,  including 
16,968  Germans,  and  28,000  sailors,  decided  to 
drive  the  enemy  from  Long  Island,  where  they 
were  entrenched  at  Brooklyn.  Separated  by  the 
Narrows  from  Staaten  Island,  a  mile's  width,  well 
occupied  by  the  English  Fleet,  and  from  New  York 
by  the  East  River,  of  about  the  same  width,  the 
Brooklyn  Heights  commanded  three  roads  —  that  on 
the  left  to  Bedford,  that  in  the  center  to  Flatbush, 
that  on  the  right  to  Gowan's  Bay.  The  Heights 
were  strongly  held  by  Washington's  best  troops, 
under  Gen.  Greene,  one  of  his  best  generals. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  29 

On  the  aist  August,  the  Hessian  Grenadiers  were 
transhipped,  and  brigaded  with  the  Yagers,  under 
Gen.  Donop,  as  an  advance.  The  Americans  aban 
doned  the  shore,  after  setting  fire  to  some  barns. 

Lord  Cornwallis  was  detached  with  the  reserve  and 
the  advance  under  Donop  and  six  guns  to  Flatbush, 
with  orders  not  to  attack  if  that  place  was  held  firmly. 
Cornwallis  took  position  at  Gravesend  and  sent  Do 
nop  forward,  and  as  he  moved  up,  the  300  Riflemen 
withdrew,  followed  by  a  few  cannon  balls. 

On  the  23d,  in  the  morning,  the  right  wing  of  the 
advance  was  attacked,  but  when  a  battery  was  brought 
up,  the  Americans  fell  back.  Another  attack  was 
attempted  in  the  afternoon,  some  of  the  soldiers 
pushing  into  the  village  and  setting  fire  to  some 
houses  ;  but  a  battery  soon  drove  them  back.  On 
the  25th,  a  strong  force,  with  guns,  renewed  the 
attack,  but  were  again  repulsed  by  the  Artillery. 

The  Hessian  Yagers  had  a  little  rest  on  the  24th 
and  25th,  but  were  again  attacked  on  the  morning  of 
the  next  day — and  after  resisting  it,  when  Cornwallis 
wanted  to  withdraw  them,  Donop  begged  to  be  allowed 
to  stay  and  to  entrench  his  position. 

On  the  25th  August,  Gen.  v.  Heister  and  his  Hes 
sians  were  moved  from  Staaten  to  Long  Island.  Only 
Lossberg's  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  Guard  Regi 
ment,  that  of  Prince  Charles,  Ditfurth's  and  Trum- 
bach's,  with  the  Fourteenth  British  Regiment,  and 
the  convalescents  and  recruits,  remained. 

Gen.  v.  Stirn  was  assigned  the  First  Brigade — the 


30  The  German  Allies 

Hereditary  Prince's,  Donop's  and  Mirbach's  Regi 
ments.  The  troops  had  moved  forward  on  the  middle 
road  to  Platbush,  Corirwallis  took  his  position  on  the 
right  wing,  and  the  line  extended  from  the  Narrows 
to  Utrecht  and  Gravesend. 

The  Americans  held  the  Heights  strongly,  their 
right  flank  stretching  from  Brooklyn  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Hudson,  in  front  Gowan's  Bay,  with  the  left 
flank  on  Wallabout  Bay. 

On  the  26th,  Heister  detached  Col.  v.  Heeringen, 
with  306  men  and  a  battery,  as  an  advanced  post  for 
the  left  wing ;  the  American  riflemen  made  an  attack, 
but  were  driven  back  by  the  artillery.  In  the  even 
ing,  Clinton  led  his  troops  on  the  road  to  Bedford,  to 
seize  a  pass  which  he  thought  strongly  held.  He 
learned  by  his  own  advance — from  a  captured  Amer 
ican  picket — that  the  road  was  clear,  and  sent  a  bat 
talion  of  light  infantry  to  hold  it.  Behind  him  was 
the  main  body  of  the  British  force,  under  Lord  Percy; 
the  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Brigades,  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment,  and  sixteen  batteries,  and  Gen. 
Howe  himself. 

At  dawn  the  troops  moved  forward,  to  turn  the 
American  left.  A  small  body  of  American  militia 
abandoned  the  heights,  to  avoid  being  cut  off,  and  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  the  British  force  was  pre 
vented  from  attacking  the  entrenchments,  and  with 
drawn  to  a  hollow  under  the  American  works.  Heis 
ter,  with  the  center,  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  Flat- 
bush  road,  so  as  to  make  a  demonstration,  while  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  31 

main  attack  on  the  American  left  was  being  made. 
Donop  asked  and  received  permission  to  lead  His 
Yagers  and  Grenadiers  in  the  first  assault  on  the 
Heights  at  Gniana.  Heister,  at  the  first  report  of 
guns  on  his  right,  moved  forward.  The  Grenadiers 
were  placed  in  three  sections,  well  forward,  with  the 
Yager  company  of  Wreden  in  advance.  Mirbach's 
brigade  had  to  cover  the  left  flank. 

The  troops  moved  up  the  Heights  in  good  order, 
flags  flying,  bands  playing,  the  men  pulling  the  guns 
through  the  woods.  When  the  troops  reached  the 
Heights,  in  spite  of  a  fire  that  did  little  harm,  they 
were  put  in  position.  The  Americans  were  driven 
out,  while  the  German  soldiers  pursued  them.  Col. 
v.  Heeringen  reported  that  the  enemy  had  strong 
defences  of  all  kinds,  but  their  riflemen  took  a  quar 
ter  of  an  hour  to  load,  and  the  Germans  overwhelmed 
them  by  rapid  firing  and  drove  them  with  the  bayo 
net.  The  Yagers  of  the  left  wing  pushed  into  the 
American  camp  and  captured  the  Americans  in  bands 
of  50  and  60  men.  Col.  Hand  was  in  command,  but 
Gen.  Sullivan  hurried  forward,  only  in  time  to  be 
struck  by  the  British  Dragoons,  followed  by  Clinton's 
Light  Infantry  of  the  right  wing. 

The  Americans  were  cut  off  and  under  fire  on  both 
flanks,  but  fought  obstinately,  at  great  disadvantage 
and  with  heavy  loss.  It  was  believed  by  them  that 
the  Hessians  gave  no  quarter,  while  the  Hessians, 
angered  at  the  useless  resistance,  after  firing  only 
once,  used  the  bayonet,  drove  the  enemy  into  the 


32  The  German  Allies 

woods  and  swamp,  and  only  a  few  were  able  to  get 
through,  to  their  own  lines. 

Mirbach's  Brigade,  on  the  left,  took  part  in  the 
action.  Rail's  Regiment  wheeled  from  the  center, 
through  a  narrow  road,  only  to  be  attacked  by  a  little 
body  of  50  Americans  ;  their  flag  was  captured  and, 
throwing  down  their  arms,  they  surrendered ;  a  sub 
altern  seized  the  flag  and  was  about  to  hand  it  to  Col. 
Rail,  when  Gen.  v.  Mirbach  came  up  and  seized  it. 
Rail  cried  out,  "  My  Grenadiers  took  it  and  they  shall 
have  it,"  and  after  a  sharp  exchange  of  words,  it  was 
left  with  the  Regiment,  and  on  a  report  at  head-quar 
ters,  Rail  was  made  Brigade  Inspector. 

On  the  left,  Gen.  Grant  was  directed  not  to  make  a 
serious  attack,  but  to  engage  the  American  forces. 
He  had  the  Fourth  and  Sixth  Brigades,  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment,  two  companies  of  New  York  Pro 
vincials,  and  ten  guns.  He  seized  the  outposts  at 
midnight,  and  when  he  heard  the  heavy  fire  on  his 
right,  made  an  attack  in  earnest,  driving  Lord  Stir 
ling,  the  American  commander,  between  two  fires  - 
that  of  Cornwallis  on  his  left,  moving  forward  with 
the  reserves,  and  cutting  off  the  retreat  to  Gowan's 
Bay  —  so  that  Stirling,  surrounded  on  all  sides,  was 
forced  to  surrender ;  giving  his  sword  to  Gen.  v.  Heis- 
ter,  to  avoid  the  British  commanders. 

Admiral  Parker,  under  orders  from  Howe  to  attack 
the  American  shore  batteries,  with  six  men-of-war, 
succeeded,  in  spite  of  wind  and  tide,  in  bringing  one 
ship  within  range. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  33 

Howe  reports  the  American  loss  at  3,500  killed, 
wounded  and  captured,  and  among  the  last,  three 
Generals  —  Stirling,  Sullivan  and  Udell,  or  Wood- 
hull  ;  three  Colonels,  four  Lieutenant-Colonels,  three 
Majors,  eighteen  Captains,  forty-three  Lieutenants, 
one  Adjutant,  eleven  Ensigns,  and  1,011  men,  besides 
fifteen  guns — of  which  the  Hessians  took  seven — and 
ten  found  in  the  works  ;  the  Hessians  alone  took  one 
flag  and  five  guns  and  520  prisoners,  among  them 
Gen.  Sullivan  and  35  officers.  Sullivan  was  captured 
by  three  Fusileers,  in  a  field  of  corn,  trying  to  escape 
by  hiding  there. 

Heeringen  said :  "  Sullivan  is  a  lawyer,  who  has 
served  in  a  very  humble  capacity,  but  he  is  a  man  of 
genius.  Among  the  so-called  Colonels  and  other 
officers,  many  were  tailors,  shoemakers,  barbers  and 
base  mechanics.  My  men  would  not  let  them  pass 
as  officers.  On  searching  Sullivan,  I  found  Wash 
ington's  orders,  showing  that  there  were  8,000  of  his 
best  troops  there,  ordered  to  hold  the  Heights  at  all 
hazards. 

uThe  British  loss  of  150  killed  and  wounded  was 
due  rather  to  their  disorderly  attack  than  to  the 
bravery  of  the  enemy.  I  have  not  found  one  of  the 
captured  officers  who  ever  served  abroad.  They  are 
mere  rebels.  Lord  Stirling  is  no  lord  at  all,  although 
the  perfect  counterpart  of  Lord  Granby.  Gen.  Put 
nam  is  a  butcher. 

"The  rebels  desert  in  great  numbers  —  Colonel, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Major  leaving,  with  all  their 
5 


34  The  German  Allies 

men.  The  captured  standard  was  brought  by  60 
men,  who  begged  for  their  lives.  Hardly  one  regi 
ment  was  uniformed  or  armed  —  every  man  has  his 
own  fowling-piece.  Stirling's  Regiment  was  in  blue, 
with  red  facings,  and  consisted  of  three  battalions, 
mostly  Pennsylvania  Germans.  They  were  fine,  tall 
fellows,  with  good  English  guns  and  bayonets.  This 
regiment  met  an  English  regiment,  but  the  latter, 
taking  them  for  Hessians,  did  not  fire,  and  this  cost 
the  life  of  Col.  Grant,  some  of  his  officers,  and  80 
men.  The  English  then  completely  destroyed  the 
American  Regiment.  The  Artillery  consists  of 
wretched  iron  guns,  badly  served,  and  mounted  on 
ship's  carriages." 

The  Hessians  lost  Capt.  v.  Donop,  Major  Bauly, 
and  a  Lieutenant,  with  23  men.  The  Germans  com 
plained  that,  as  no  horses  were  brought  over,  the 
field  and  staff  officers  were  at  a  disadvantage,  and 
were  obliged  to  carry  guns  to  protect  themselves  from 
the  American  riflemen.  The  men  had  to  give  up 
their  heavy  uniforms,  and  soon  learned  to  adjust 
themselves  to  the  trying  hot  weather. 

The  English  forces  engaged  numbered  about 
15,000,  the  other  half  being  left  on  ship-board  and 
on  Staaten  Island,  while  the  Americans  had  8,000 
men  in  their  works,  under  Sullivan,  and  5,000  in  the 
lines  around  Brooklyn. 

Greene  was  to  have  commanded,  but  owing  to  his 
sickness  Sullivan  succeeded  him,  knowing  little  or 
nothing  of  the  plan  and  ignorant  of  the  necessity  of 


In  the  American  Revolution.  35 

holding  the  pass  at  Bedford,  or  of  the  condition  of 
the  works  on  the  Heights. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  the  European  and  the  Amer 
ican  tactics  were  sharply  contested.  The  American 
lines  were  too  long,  not  properly  supported,  and  cov 
ered  by  heavy  detachments  of  sharpshooters,  to  no 
great  advantage  in  the  end. 

The  British  and  Hessian  troops  developed  their 
strength  in  heavy  columns  and  drove  the  thin  lines 
back  with  the  bayonet.  When  the  left  wing  of  the 
rebels  was  driven  from  the  Heights,  it  broke  in  the 
swampy  ground  below,  and  was  turned  by  Clinton 
with  great  disorder. 

Hessian  blood  was  here  first  spilled  on  American 
soil.  The  Germans  learned  that  they  had  met  a  new 
method  of  fighting,  quite  unlike  the  old  prescribed 
fashion  in  vogue  in  Europe.  The  Americans  cried 
out  against  the  bloody  pursuit  of  the  Hessians  and 
their  refusal  to  accept  a  surrender.  The  dread  of  the 
Germans  grew  from  a  belief  that  they  would  give  no 
quarter.  It  was  reported  that  over  two  thousand  reb 
els  had  been  slaughtered  in  cold  blood.  The  Hessians 
retorted  that  a  hostile  band,  after  surrender,  had  fired 
on  their  captors,  and  by  this  violation  of  German 
usage  had  brought  on  their  own  heads  an  angry 
return. 

Col.  v.  Heeringen,  in  his  report  to  Col.  v.  Lossberg, 
said :  "  The  English  gave  little  quarter  to  the  enemy 
and  encouraged  our  men  to  do  the  same  thing."  He 
complained  that  Col.  John  (?)  with  a  Pennsylvania 


36  The  German  Allies 

regiment,  cut  off  from  the  main  body,  fired  on  the 
Hessian  Grenadiers  when  resistance  was  hopeless. 

The  fact  that  Rail's  Regiment  captured  a  body  of 
the  enemy  and  did  them  no  harm,  showed  rather  the 
fear  the  rebels  felt,  while  the  Germans  expressed  the 
greatest  contempt  for  an  enemy  which  had  shown,  in 
this  first  conflict,  so  little  genius  for  war. 

Lieut.  Riiffer,  in  his  diary,  says  many  of  the  rebels 
refused  to  surrender  when  it  was  offered  them,  for 
their  officers  had  told  them  that  they  would  be 
hanged. 

The  captured  rebels  were  employed  in  dragging 
guns  to  the  ships,  but  this  was  rather  from  want  of 
horses,  than  as  a  mark  of  contempt.  Howe  treated 
the  captured  officers  with  great  politeness,  and  Stir 
ling  and  Sullivan  were  his  daily  guests  at  his  table. 

The  Americans  anxiously  waited  for  daybreak, 
fearing  an  attack  on  their  lines,  which,  with  their 
reduced  force  and  the  shattered  confidence  of  their 
men,  they  could  not  hope  to  resist.  Howe  opened  a 
cannonade  on  the  morning  of  August  2  7th  and  began 
to  fortify  his  camp,  but  the  rain  interfered.  He  had 
neglected  to  put  men-of-war  in  the  East  River,  to  cut 
off  the  retreat  of  the  Americans.  When  at  last,  on 
the  29th,  he  ordered  this  to  be  done,  a  thick  fog  cov 
ered  land  and  water,  and  the  retreat,  ordered  by 
Washington,  after  a  Council  of  War,  was  success 
fully  effected,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  3oth 
Donop's  and  Lossberg's  Regiments  occupied  the 
abandoned  lines. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  37 

Heeringen  had,  on  the  night  between  the  2Qth 
and  30th,  through  Lieut.  Zoll,  reported  to  Howe  the 
retreat,  and  the  two  Howes,  the  General  and  the 
Admiral,  came  to  his  quarters  to  decide  what  next  to 
do.  Men-of-war  were  ordered  to  the  other  side  of 
Manhattan  Island,  and  lay  so  near  New  York  that 
the  people  in  the  streets  could  be  seen  and  even  the 
color  of  their  clothing  distinguished. 

Eleven  guns,  much  ammunition  and  food  were 
found;  the  Hessians  seized  over  a  hundred  horses 
and  three  hundred  head  of  cattle.  They  found,  too, 
an  order  stating  that  against  such  an  enemy  as  the 
Hessians,  resistance  was  impossible,  and  nothing 
was  left  but  retreat. 

The  English  regretted  not  having  accepted  Heis- 
ter's  offer  to  attack  the  American  lines  on  the  27th, 
when  he  reported  an  opening  on  the  left  of  their 
fortified  camp. 

Gen.  v.  Heister,  with  two  Hessian  brigades,  occu 
pied  the  abandoned  Heights  of  Brooklyn,  and  Don  op, 
with  the  Grenadiers  and  Yagers,  seized  Bush  wick. 

Howe  moved  his  head-quarters  to  Newtown,  while 
Hellgate  and  Flushing  were  occupied.  The  English 
made  every  arrangement  to  secure  New  York,  and 
the  Americans  were  loath  to  yield  it.  So  near  were 
the  lines  that  one  day,  when  Washington  was 
inspecting  his  outposts,  a  Hessian  Captain  of  Artil 
lery  opened  fire,  and  with  the  third  shot,  the  little 
band  soon  disappeared. 

Howe  erected  batteries  in  the  rear,  and  put  the 


38  The  German  Allies 

men-of-war  in  front  of  New  York,  and  on  the  evening 
of  September  i3th,  five  large  English  men-of-war 
moved  past  the  forts,  under  fire  from  the  batteries, 
to  the  point  chosen  for  a  landing.  Commodore 
Hotham  brought  flat-boats  and  gallies  to  the  same 
place,  and  six  transports  brought  troops,  under  a 
heavy  fire.  To  distract  attention,  on  the  morning  of 
the  1 5th,  three  frigates  and  a  schooner  went  up  the 
Hudson  as  far  as  Bloomingdale,  drawing  the  fire  of 
all  the  guns  within  range.  Under  the  fire  of  five 
men-of-war  and  of  the  English  and  American  bat 
teries,  the  first  division  was  landed,  including  the 
Hessian  Grenadiers  and  Yagers,  in  the  reserve,  led 
by  Donop. 

The  point  selected  was  at  Kip's  Bay,  although 
preparation  had  been  made  at  Stuyvesant's  Cove  and 
Harlem ;  so  that  there  was  little  resistance,  and  the 
Americans  hurriedly  retreated  to  Kingsbridge,  aban 
doning  bag  and  baggage  in  their  flight. 

The  Hessians  pushed  on  to  New  York.  Donop 
went  with  the  advance  into  a  wood  where  the  Ameri 
can  sharpshooters  were  posted ;  as  these  fell  back, 
five  were  taken.  Donop  wanted  to  drive  the  enemy, 
but  Howe  ordered  him  to  occupy  the  high  ground  on 
his  right,  just  when  Col.  von  Block  discovered  the 
enemy  on  his  left.  Not  to  have  his  left  turned,  he 
kept  his  position  and  advised  Col.  v.  Minnigerode  of 
it.  When  Donop  received  this  report,  he  left  von 
Block's  battalion  and  moved  with  the  rest  of  his  force 
to  the  right,  on  the  road  from  Kingsbridge  to  New 


In  the  American  Revolution.  39 

York,  to  seize  the  High  ground.  Although  fortified, 
he  found  the  position  abandoned,  and  the  force  that 
had  left  it  was  in  the  ditches  in  front  of  the  wood. 
When  they  found  themselves  cut  off,  they  offered  to 
surrender,  but  just  then  Block's  battalion  opened 
fire  on  them  from  the  other  side,  and  as  it  was 
returned,  the  rebels  escaped,  leaving  only  one 
Colonel,  six  other  officers  and  50  men  as  prisoners, 
while  the  Grenadier  battalion  lost  two  killed  and  six 
teen  wounded.  About  3  p.  M.,  Donop  was  relieved 
by  British  troops,  and  after  moving  forward  four 
miles,  bivouacked.  The  Americans  had  made  so 
little  resistance  that  Washington  was  enraged  by  his 
vain  efforts  to  rally  them. 

The  second  division,  under  Grant,  with  Mirbach's 
brigade,  landed  at  Turtle  Bay,  and  drove  the  enemy, 
who  made  one  stand,  through  Gowan's  Pass  to  Morris's 
Heights.  Washington  at  once  gave  orders  to  evacu 
ate  the  city. 

On  the  1 5th  of  September,  the  invading  force  was 
posted,  with  its  right  on  Horen's  Hook,  on  the  East 
River,  its  left  at  Bloomingdale,  on  the  Hudson,  where 
Donop  was  drawn  up. 

The  Americans  held  the  heights  on  both  sides  of 
Kingsbridge,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson. 
New  York  was  in  the  rear  of  the  British-German 
army,  and  horses  were  obtained  on  requisition,  espe 
cially  for  the  Hessian  officers. 

The  Americans  lost  20  officers,  300  men  and  74 
guns,  with  ammunition  and  many  supplies.  On  the 


40  The  German  Allies 

retreat,  a  company  of  Hessian  Yagers  led  the  pur 
suit,  capturing  a  battery  of  five  guns,  and  taking 
post  at  John's  House. 

On  the  1 5th,  Admiral  Lord  Howe  received  a  depu 
tation  of  three  Congressmen — Franklin  and  Adams 
were  of  the  number — at  the  Hessian  Camp  at  Amboy 
Ferry,  and  Col.  von  Wurmb  gave  his  quarters  for 
the  meeting. 

Howe  was  reproached  for  allowing  Putnam  to 
escape,  and  for  not  capturing  the  city  and  Washing 
ton's  army  at  one  blow. 

On  the  1 6th  of  September  there  was  a  sharp  fight, 
the  Americans  sending  a  strong  detachment  from 
their  lines  to  attack  the  British  left,  and  then  falling 
back,  in  order  to  draw  the  enemy  into  the  woods, 
where  a  reserve  of  3,000  men  was  posted,  to  attack. 
Col.  v.  Donop,  with  the  Yagers  and  v.  Linsingen's 
Grenadier  battalion,  pushed  forward,  sending  Block's 
and  Minnigerode's  battalions  around  to  seize  the  road 
to  Kingsbridge. 

The  Americans  fell  back,  before  the  advancing 
Germans,  who  lost  eight  men  wounded,  among  them 
Lieut.  Hinrichs ;  and  Donop  pitched  his  camp  at 
Bloomingdale. 

Col.  Donop,  in  his  report  to  Gen.  Heister,  said  that 
his  two  regiments  had  saved  Gen.  Leslie  from  the 
results  of  a  serious  blunder  in  pushing  his  men  into 
the  woods,  without  any  support.  Captains  Wreden 
and  Lorey  were  particularly  distinguished. 

The  enemy  lost  300,  the  English  14  dead  and  78 


In  the  American  Revolution.  41 

wounded.  Lieut.  Hinrichs  wrote  many  descriptions 
of  the  scenes  he  witnessed,  and  these  were  published 
in  the  principal  German  newspapers. 

Stirn's  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Knyphausen, 
Lossberg  and  Rail  regiments,  remained  on  Long 
Island,  under  command  of  Col.  v.  Heeringen,  a  brave 
old  officer,  who  died  and  was  buried  in  a  Brooklyn 
church-yard. 

The  troops  left  on  Staaten  Island  suffered  for  want 
of  supplies,  and  were  in  daily  fear  of  an  attack, 
reported  to  them  by  loyalists  and  deserters.  Fre 
quent  efforts  were  made  by  the  rebels  to  land,  and 
although  successfully  resisted  by  constant  vigilance, 
the  inhabitants  were  continually  sending  news  to 
the  rebels,  while  living  under  the  protection  of  the 
Hessians.  Congress  issued  proclamations  making 
tempting  offers  to  officers  and  soldiers  to  abandon  the 
British  flag  and  become  American  land-owners  and 
citizens,  but  these  met  with  little  response. 

On  the  i  yth  September,  the  Hessians  had  a  sharp 
contest  with  the  Americans  at  Amboy  Ferry.  A  two- 
masted  American  vessel  was  driven  from  its  anchor 
age  and  went  ashore ;  the  Americans  tried  to  get  it 
off  with  boats,  but  Col.  v.  Wurmb  brought  up  his 
guns  and  opened  fire,  driving  the  Americans  off,  and 
the  vessel  was  taken  by  the  Hessians. 

The  Americans  brought  down  some  twelve-pound 
ers  to  the  shore,  but  they  were  soon  silenced  by  the 
Hessian  artillery.     Howe  thanked  them  in  general 
orders. 
6 


42  The  German  Allies 

On  the  2oth  and  2ist,  the  inhabitants  of  New 
York  and  the  garrison  were  alarmed  by  the  outbreak 
of  fire  in  wooden  houses  in  different  parts  of  the 
town,  and  a  third  of  the  houses  were  burned  before 
the  troops  could  put  out  the  fire.  Disorderly  mobs 
had  started  the  fires,  and  their  preparations  were 
found  in  various  places,  while  the  crowd  hooted  the 
soldiers  as  they  worked  to  put  out  the  flames,  and 
cheered  as  the  tower  of  St.  Paul's  fell  into  the  burn 
ing  church.  The  mob  charged  the  sailors  of  the  fleet 
with  having  started  the  conflagration.  Donop  says, 
in  his  diary,  that  it  was  planned  by  Col.  Scott,  of  the 
American  forces,  once  a  lawyer,  who  had  forty  des 
perate  men  employed  in  putting  incendiar}^  material 
in  the  houses  of  fugitive  royalists,  and  that  the  whole 
plan  was  found  when  Scott  was  arrested. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Howe  was  established  in  New 
York,  he  authorized  the  publication  of  The  Royal 
American  Gazette. 

On  the  1 4th  October,  orders  were  issued  to  the 
troops  to  be  ready  to  move,  and  the  next  day,  at  5  A. 
M.,  Lossberg's  brigade,  the  Guards,  Prince  Charles' 
and  Ditfurth's  regiments,  left  Staaten  Island,  to  join 
the  rest  of  the  army.  In  the  evening,  the  advance, 
under  Donop,  went  on  board  the  transports  ;  v.  Trum- 
bach's  regiment  was  left  on  the  island,  with  orders 
to  join  an  English  detachment  of  200  men  posted  at 
Fort  Dalrymple.  Captain  Parker  had  command  of 
the  four  vessels  on  which  the  troops  were  embarked, 
and  was  kept  by  head  winds  at  anchor  off  Bushwick. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  43 

The  officers  were  warmly  welcomed  at  the  houses  of 
the  loyalists  living  in  the  neighborhood.  The  ves 
sels  moved  up  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island,  and 
were  so  near  the  shore  that  Capt.  Parker  ordered  the 
officers  to  keep  the  curtains  drawn  before  the  cabin 
windows,  lest  the  Americans  should  fire  on  them. 
The  hostile  camp  was  in  plain  sight.  Two  frigates 
guarded  the  fleet ;  the  other  vessels  were  protected 
by  pickets,  and  all  were  kept  ready. 

The  secret  of  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  at 
first  kept  even  from  the  officers,  but  finally  it  was 
found  out  —  to  leave  two  British  brigades  and  Stirn's 
Hessians  in  the  garrison  at  New  York,  and  the  lines 
before  Harlem,  under  Lord  Percy,  while  the  rest  of 
the  army  was  to  be  landed  in  Westchester  county,  to 
cut  the  Americans  off  from  Connecticut — their  only 
line  of  retreat  and  source  of  supplies — or  oblige  them 
to  abandon  their  strong  position. 

On  the  1 5th  October,  at  6  A.  M.,  the  vessels  sailed 
on,  passing  undisturbed  by  fire  from  the  American 
lines,  although  they  were  so  near  that  the  officers 
could  be  distinctly  seen  on  both  sides.  After  touch 
ing  at  Frog's  Neck,  and  finding  that  the  Americans 
had  cut  the  only  bridge  leading  to  the  main  land,  the 
troops  from  Staaten  Island,  including  Mirbach's  brig 
ade,  the  Hessian  Grenadiers  and  Yagers,  were  brought 
in  boats,  a  landing  was  made  at  Pell's  Neck,  under 
cover  of  the  men-of-war  and  gunboats,  engaged  with 
the  Americans ;  Stirn's  brigade  was  brought  up  and 
the  Americans  retreated,  the  British  taking  up  their 


44  The  German  Allies 

position  with  the  left  on  East  Chester  and  the  right 
on  New  Rochelle. 

The  Americans  lost  one  lieutenant-colonel  killed, 
a  major  wounded,  and  50  dead  and  wounded.  Tents 
and  baggage  being  left  on  the  vessels,  the  troops 
were  obliged  to  camp  in  the  open  air  on  a  sharp 
autumn  night. 

On  the  morning  of  October  I9th,  the  Guard  regi 
ment  was  posted  on  a  hill  near  New  Rochelle,  on  the 
high  road  from  New  York  to  Boston,  and  the  line  of 
retreat  to  Connecticut  and  Boston  was  cut  off  by  the 
British  army.  Washington,  fearful  that  his  forces 
would  be  entirely  surrounded,  led  them  off  the  island, 
leaving  only  a  garrison  at  Fort  Washington,  and  took 
up  a  new  position,  with  his  right  on  Valentine's  Hill, 
his  left  on  White  Plains,  his  front  on  Bronx  River. 
His  long  line  forced  him  to  divide  his  army  into  four 
corps,  connected  by  outposts  and  patrols. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2oth,  the  English  light 
infantry,  the  Hessian  Yagers,  Rail's  brigade  and  the 
English  Grenadiers  moved  forward  and  drove  a  small 
American  force  back  into  their  entrenchments. 

On  the  2ist,  Capt.  v.  Malsburg,  of  Ditfurth's  regi 
ment,  was  ordered  to  guard  head-quarters.  Gen.  v. 
Heister,  with  his  two  Hessian  brigades  and  one  Eng 
lish,  took  up  a  position  vacated  by  advancing  the 
right  wing  to  White  Plains.  The  Rangers,  a  body 
of  loyal  Americans,  under  Lieut-Col.  Rogers,  seized 
Mamaroneck,  on  the  right,  and  successfully  resisted 
an  attack  of  the  American  forces,  losing  17  killed 


In  the  American  Revolution.  45 

and  wounded,  36  prisoners  and  one  flag,  but  inflict 
ing  much  Heavier  loss  on  the  rebels. 

On  the  22d,  fresh  forces  were  brought  up,  the  Sec 
ond  Hessian  Division  under  Knyphausen,  and  the 
Waldeck  regiment,  just  arrived,  after  leaving  Cassel 
early  in  May,  and  reaching  New  York  October  i8th. 
They  included  Wutgenan's,  Mirbach's,  Rail's  Gren 
adier,  Stein's,  Wissenbach's,  Huyne's  and  Biinau's 
regiments,  the  Fourth  Grenadier  battalion,  and  the 
Second  Yager  company,  under  an  able  officer,  Capt. 
Ewald.  Among  the  English  reinforcements  were 
the  Sixteenth  Light  Dragoons,  but  so  badly  were  the 
cavalry  organized  that  Washington  offered  a  reward 
of  $200  for  every  dragoon  captured  with  his  horse. 


CHAPTER    II. 


The  British  government  had  not  transports  enough 
to  carry  all  its  forces,  native  and  foreign,  across  at 
once,  and  this  had  to  be  done  piecemeal,  and  for  this 
purpose  Dutch  and  other  ships  were  hastily  hired  at 
high  rates,  but  in  very  bad  condition.  The  second 
fleet  of  transports  carried  to  America,  Hessian  and 
Waldeck  troops.  Little  Waldeck  had  a  prince  with 
love  and  experience  of  war — he  had  served  in  Austria 
and  was  a  lieutenant-general  in  the  Dutch  army,  and 
had  three  regiments  ready  to  serve  for  pay  on  any 
foreign  service.  His  third  regiment  was  soon  ready, 
and  inspected  by  the  prince  and  his  court ;  his  mother 
gave  the  soldiers  a  handsome  present  for  a  farewell 
entertainment,  but  the  native  workmen  had  a  sharp 
fight  with  the  soldiers  and  the  recruiting  officers. 
The  regiment  marched  away  on  the  2oth  of  March, 
1776,  and  the  last  farewell  was  a  promise  that  all 
who  returned  should  be  taken  to  their  homes  in  car 
riages.  It  consisted  of  a  Grenadier  company,  134 
strong,  and  four  musketry  companies,  each  130  strong, 
two  three-pound  guns  and  14  artillerymen,  and  with 
a  staff  of  1 6,  counted  in  all  684  strong. 

The  Colonel  was  v.  Hanxleden,  the  Adjutant  Lieu- 


48  The  German  Allies 

tenant  Stierlein,  the  Captains  Hacken,  von  Horn 
Alberti,  Pentzel.  On  its  march,  it  was  escorted  by 
the  Waldeck  sharpshooters,  in  their  green  uniforms, 
to  prevent  desertion  and  keep  order,  but  some  of  the 
old  soldiers  took  offense  at  this  precaution  and  suc 
ceeded  in  evading  it.  After  a  tedious  march  to  Bre 
men,  the  men  went  on  board  the  transports,  which 
finally  set  sail  on  June  3d,  and  on  the  2Oth  were  in 
Portsmouth,  where  the  Brunswick,  Hesse  Hanau  and 
Hessian  divisions  were  all  gathered. 

The  Waldeckers  received  from  their  prince  each  a 
hymn  book,  in  addition  to  the  prayer  book  given  him 
as  part  of  his  regular  outfit. 

It  was  not  until  July  2oth  that  the  fleet  of  64  sail 
finally  started  from  Portsmouth,  where  the  vessels 
had  been  forced  to  wait  for  a  favorable  wind.  A  fire 
on  one  of  the  ships  was  the  principal  incident  of  the 
voyage,  but  fortunately  there  was  no  loss  of  life  and 
no  serious  harm  done. 

On  the  1 8th  October,  the  fleet  reached  New  York, 
and  on  the  24th  the  troops  joined  the  force  under 
Gen.  v.  Heister,  at  New  Rochelle.  On  the  25!^ 
Howe  ordered  a  reconnoisance,  and  Captain  Ewald 
here  gave  the  first  proof  of  his  efficiency  and  received 
Howe's  praise,  with  a  caution  not  to  be  so  rash  and 
venturesome,  for  his  daring  advance  caused  a  sharp 
loss.  Washington  was  reported  to  be  falling  back, 
and  Howe,  anxious  to  force  a  battle,  sent,  on  the  25th, 
two  columns,  leaving  Kiiyphausen  to  protect  the  rear 
and  keep  open  communication  with  the  garrison  in 


In  the  American  Revolution.  49 

New  York.  The  Hessians,  under  Heister,  were  the 
left  column,  while  the  Hessian  Grenadiers  and  Yagers 
were  in  the  right,  under  Clinton. 

A  sharp  attack  was  handsomely  repelled  by  Knyp- 
hausen's  division.  Rail's  regiment  had  a  skirmish 
and  drove  back  the  Americans,  and  a  Hessian  Gren 
adier  captured  by  them  was  taken  to  Washington, 
who,  according  to  Capt.  v.  Malsburg's  diary,  urged 
him  to  join  them,  and  when  the  man  refused,  gave  him 
a  guinea  and  sent  him  back  to  rejoin  his  regiment. 

Washington  took  up  a  strong  position,  and  Howe 
sent  Donop  in  advance,  while  Rail  was  on  the  left, 
and  had  the  lines  of  the  enemy  felt,  in  the  effort  to 
turn  them. 

The  two  armies  faced  each  other ;  Rail  and  Donop 
moved  their  troops  and  made  great  fires,  and  in  vari 
ous  ways  tried  to  exaggerate  their  apparent  strength, 
on  the  night  before  the  battle  of  White  Plains. 

The  Hessians  and  the  Waldeckers  lost  heavily  in 
the  operations  between  October  Qth  and  28th  — 13 
killed,  63  wounded  and  23  missing.  The  Hessian 
artillery  was  especially  commended,  and  Lossberg's 
regiment  lost  in  the  action  50  in  killed  and  wounded. 
At  the  most  trying  time,  two  of  its  officers  especially 
distinguished  themselves,  and  Baumeister,  Heister 's 
adjutant,  mentioned  them,  as  well  as  others,  as  par 
ticularly  notable  for  their  bravery. 

Both  armies  strengthened  their  lines,  and  Howe 
made  frequent  plans  for  attack,  but  one  after  the 
other  was  given  up.     Tired  of  the  long  delay,  the 
7 


50  The  German  Allies 

soldiers  often  committed  excesses,  and  the  Waldeck 
regiment  was  especially  embittered  by  the  loss  of 
some  wine  and  spirits  belonging  to  the  American 
General  Lee,  captured  by  them,  bnt,  by  Howe's  order, 
emptied  on  the  roadside ;  this,  at  a  time  when  the  cold 
weather  was  very  trying,  naturally  made  the  men 
angry. 

Warned  by  a  deserter,  Washington  withdrew  still 
further  northward  into  the  mountains,  leaving  many 
houses  of  the  royalists  in  ashes,  to  mark  his  line  of 
retreat.  Donop,  supported  by  Rail  and  Stirn,  was 
ordered  to  seize  the  American  works,  but  was  forced 
back  until  the  evacuation  was  completed.  The  Hes 
sian  officers  praised  the  skill  shown  in  the  abandoned 
defenses,  and  were  surprised  that  they  were  so  easily 
given  up. 

Howe  determined  to  take  Forts  Washington  and 
Lee,  on  the  Hudson,  and  Knyphausen  was  sent  in 
the  advance  in  that  direction.  Much  adverse  criti 
cism  was  expressed  by  the  Germans  as  to  Howe's 
want  of  ability  in  this  operation,  and  still  more  that 
he  had  given  up  his  plan  of  advance  to  Albany. 

Howe  made  the  Hessian  Captain  v.  Munchhausen 
his  adjutant,  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  Germans. 
Ditfurth's  regiment  had  the  honor  of  drawing  the 
first  fire  from  the  guns  of  Fort  Washington.  The 
Waldeckers  took  possession  of  Fort  Independence, 
abandoned  by  the  Americans  in  their  retreat,  with  its 
12  heavy  guns,  and  62  guns  were  left  in  other  works. 
In  Fort  Washington  there  was  a  garrison  of  3,000 


In  the  American  Revolution.  51 

men,  under  Col.  Magraw,  who  rejected  Howe's  sum 
mons  to  surrender.  Howe  ordered  an  attack  in  four 
columns  ;  Knyphausen,  on  the  left  of  the  Americans, 
having  the  hardest  task,  while  the  frigate  Pearl  was 
to  support  him  with  its  fire. 

Knyphausen,  on  November  lyth,  issued  his  orders 
for  the  attack ;  the  Yagers  and  40  Grenadiers,  under 
Captain  Bornin,  to  lead,  followed  by  160  men  under 
Col.  v.  Borbeck,  and  then  the  Grenadier  battalion  of 
Kohler,  and  those  of  Wutgenan,  Lossberg,  Rail, 
Knyphausen,  Huyne,  Biinau  and  Waldeck.  Prepar 
ations  for  assault  were  ordered  in  great  detail.  In 
the  morning,  at  half-past  five,  Knyphausen  advanced, 
his  right  under  Rail,  his  left  under  Schmidt,  Donop 
in  the  advance  of  the  former,  v.  Medern  of  the  latter. 
At  seven  o'clock  the  firing  began,  and  the  advance 
was  well  on  its  way,  when  Howe  ordered  Knyphau 
sen  to  wait  the  movement  of  his  other  wing.  At  n 
A.  M.,  the  order  to  attack  was  finally  carried  into  oper 
ation,  and  the  outworks  were  gallantly  seized,  while 
the  Americans  were  crowded  into  the  fort  itself. 

Captain  v.  Hohenstein,  who  spoke  both  English 
and  French,  was  sent  by  Rail  to  summon  the  fort  to 
surrender,  and  at  once  moved  forward  with  a  white 
flag,  presented  his  terms,  and  gave  half  an  hour  for 
their  acceptance,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  Knyp 
hausen  received  the  flags,  and  the  garrison,  2,870 
strong,  44  guns,  and  large  supplies  of  all  kinds,  were 
the  result. 

When  Captain  v.  Malsburg  was  looking  around, 


52  The  German  Allies 

after  taking  possession  of  the  works,  he  was  welcomed 
by  a  rebel  soldier,  who  claimed  acquaintance  in  Ger 
many,  and  pointed  out  a  number  of  Germans  serving 
in  the  American  army.  The  four  regiments  surrend 
ered  to  the  regiments  of  Rail  and  Lossberg.  The 
Hessians  lost,  in  the  attack,  more  heavily  than  any 
other  of  the  English  troops — killed  53,  wounded  273 
— while  the  total  American  loss  was  53  killed  and  15 
wounded. 

Knyphausen  was  congratulated  by  Howe  and  Heis- 
ter,  and  Fort  Washington  became  Fort  Knyphausen, 
as  a  special  compliment  to  its  captor.  The  Hessians 
themselves  were  not  at  all  satisfied  with  Howe's 
delays,  which  cost  them  a  large  part  of  their  loss. 
The  wounded  were  sent  to  Harlem,  where  Captain 
v.  Griesheim  was  in  command ;  the  Hessian  brigade 
of  Schmidt  garrisoned  Fort  Washington,  and  the 
Waldeck  regiment  Fort  Independence. 

With  the  fall  of  Fort  Washington,  Fort  Lee  became 
useless,  as  alone  it  could  no  longer  bar  the  passage  of 
the  Hudson.  Washington  had  already  given  orders 
to  evacuate  it,  when,  on  the  2oth,  he  received  news 
that  the  allied  forces  had  made  a  landing  two  miles 
up  the  river — Donop  led  the  three  battalions  of  Hes 
sian  Grenadiers  and  the  Yagers.  Cornwallis  com 
manded  the  force  and  handled  it  so  skilfully  that  it 
made  good  its  hold  on  the  Jersey  shore,  seizing  the 
road  from  Bergen  Point  to  Orange,  before  the  rebels 
had  any  guess  at  their  plan.  The  two  Yager  compa 
nies  were  in  the  advance,  one  on  the  left,  the  other,  on 


In  the  American  Revolution.  53 

the  right,  led  by  Captain  Ewald,  who  found  the  rebels 
retreating  from  the  fort ;  instantly  notifying  Corn 
wallis,  he  was  greatly  surprised  on  receiving  orders 
to  fall  back,  and  while  Cornwallis  waited  to  order  the 
advance  in  force  towards  the  fort,  the  rebels  completed 
their  retreat,  and  not  a  man  was  left  to  be  taken  with 
the  fort. 

The  Americans  saved  only  two  guns,  leaving  even 
their  tents,  and  their  kettles  hanging  on  the  fire ;  32 
guns,  7  mortars,  400,000  rounds  of  ammunition,  432 
tents,  and  provisions  for  5,000  men  for  three  months, 
were  all  left,  along  with  73  sick,  out  of  a  garrison  of 


2,000  men. 


Cornwallis  pursued  the  Americans  through  Eliza 
beth  to  Brunswick,  Donop  often  under  fire,  as  he  led 
the  advance,  or  covered  the  flanks.  Rail's  brigade, 
consisting  of  his  own  regiment,  Knyphausen's  and 
Lossberg's,  started  under  orders  to  go  to  the  Dela 
ware,  and  on  the  way  were  heartily  welcomed  by  the 
inhabitants,  mostly  Holland  settlers  and  good  loyal 
ists.  The  Hessian  Grenadiers  and  Yagers  were  in 
the  right  column,  which  Cornwallis  led  to  Princeton. 
Howe  was  with  Donop,  in  the  advance.  Rail's  brig 
ade  left  Lossberg's  regiment  at  Brunswick,  to  be 
relieved  by  the  Waldeck  regiment.  The  advance 
suffered  from  the  fire  of  the  American  sharpshooters. 

Howe,  on  arriving  at  Trenton,  was  urged  by  some 
of  its  loyalist  citizens  to  hurry  up  his  troops  and  cap 
ture  the  retreating  Americans  before  they  could  cross 
the  Delaware,  but  Howe  went  with  the  Yagers  to 


54  The  German  Allies 

reconnoiter  the  open  ground,  and  soon  drew  the  fire 
from  37  guns,  mounted  on  the  other  shore,  losing  13 
men.  Miinchhausen  especially  commends  Howe's 
coolness  under  this  heavy  fire,  and  his  own  good  for 
tune  in  receiving,  in  place  of  an  old  horse,  disabled 
as  he  rode  by  Howe's  side,  a  fine  English  horse, 
which  Howe  gave  him. 

Miinchhausen  made  vain  efforts  to  find  a  passage 
for  the  troops,  for  while  Washington  held  the  front, 
Lee  threatened  the  rear  and  captured  700  head  of  cat 
tle  and  1,000  sheep. 

On  the  nth,  Donop,  with  his  Grenadiers  and 
Yagers,  was  sent  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Delaware, 
to  go  as  far  as  Philadelphia,  collecting  boats,  but 
without  result,  while  his  movement  was  sharply 
watched  by  the  Americans,  who  had  sent  13  gallies, 
with  36-pounders,  up  the  river,  which  was  completely 
commanded  on  both  shores.  Rail's  brigade  had  a 
rough  march  from  Brunswick  to  Princeton,  bivouack 
ing  in  the  snow,  without  shelter,  and  the  regiments 
were  ordered  to  find  winter  quarters  in  Trenton, 
while  Donop  went  to  Bordentown  and  Burlington. 

Miinchhausen  declares  that  the  Germans  were 
anxious  to  cross  the  Delaware  and  capture  Philadel 
phia.  Howe,  however,  had  gone  to  New  York  and 
formed  his  lines,  with  the  left  on  the  Hudson  and 
the  right  on  the  East  river,  about  a  mile  in  front  of 
the  city.  The  mob  had  again  set  fire  to  many  of  the 
best  houses  and  churches,  while  the  garrison  was 
quartered  in  other  churches,  and  in  Fort  St.  George 


In  the  American  Revolution.  55 

and  in  wooden  barracks.  The  party  feeling  ran  high 
in  the  city ;  its  civil  government  was  in  loyal  hands, 
and  the  Germans  found  evidences  of  luxury  and  hos 
pitality  in  the  well-furnished  houses  on  Queen  street 
and  Water  street,  where  the  rich  merchants  then 
lived ;  but  their  hope  of  being  quartered  there  was 
disappointed  by  Howe's  orders  to  them  to  move  in 
another  direction.  Many  of  the  churches  were  used 
as  prisons  for  the  captured  rebels.  The  city  was 
divided  into  seven  sections,  and  a  mayor,  with  seven 
councillors  and  seven  aldermen — loyalists,  of  course 
— had  charge  of  the  civil  government.  Many  of  the 
citizens  were  supplied  with  arms  and  employed  as 
militia,  to  guard  the  city. 


CHAPTER    III. 


While  Gen.  Cornwallis  was  driving  the  enemy 
before  him  through  New  Jersey,  Howe  suddenly 
ordered  him  to  halt.  Instead  of  pursuing  his  advant 
age,  he  decided  to  go  in  the  other  direction,  and  an 
important  part  of  his  force  was  sent  to  Rhode  Island, 
where  for  three  years  it  was  practically  useless.  The 
harbor  of  Newport  had  some  value,  but  it  could  have 
been  taken  just  as  well  after  Cornwallis  had  com 
pleted  his  successful  campaign. 

In  the  expedition  to  Rhode  Island,  the  Hessians 
were  about  one-half  the  force  —  including  Huyne's 
brigade,  the  Guard  regiment  and  a  part  of  Lossberg's. 
Sixty  transport  vessels,  mostly  supplied  by  the  East 
India  Company,  were  divided  in  three  portions,  each 
convoyed  by  three  men-of-war.  They  left  New  York 
November  ayth,  and  on  the  yth  December  anchored 
off  Prudence  Island.  No  vessels  were  in  Newport 
harbor,  but  the  red  flag  flying  from  all  the  defenses 
gave  notice  of  an  obstinate  resistance. 

On  landing,  the  troops  were  surprised  to  learn  that 

the  Americans  had  gone,  the  night  before,  to  Bristol 

and  Providence,  carefully  carrying  off  30  guns,  and 

leaving  only  a  few  cattle,  captured  by  Prescot.     The 

8 


58  The  German  Allies 

Prince  Charles  and  Ditfurth  regiments  occupied  the 
town  just  in  time  to  prevent  its  being  set  on  fire. 
Two  Yager  companies  were  organized  in  each  of  the 
Hessian  regiments,  to  serve  as  light  infantry. 

Newport  then  had  1,100  houses,  and  in  those  of  the 
rich  and  well-to-do  families,  there  was  great  luxury. 
Soldiers  were  quartered  in  the  houses  of  those  who 
had  gone  away,  and  few  of  those  who  stayed  behind 
gave  the  soldiers  a  very  hearty  reception.  The  great 
want  was  wood,  and  the  Hessian  soldiers  were  sent 
to  Shelter  Island  to  secure  a  supply.  There  the  fear 
of  the  Hessians  was  found  to  be  exaggerated,  but 
the  negroes  and  Indians  were  soon  reconciled  to  the 
soldiers. 

Six  Hessian  regiments  were  sent  to  join  Cornwal- 
lis,  and  the  Lossberg  regiment  was  left  in  Newport. 
Huyne's  brigade  was  sent  out  on  the  island,  and  on 
January  22d  drove  off  a  landing  party  of  Americans, 
and  with  its  battery  nearly  sunk  the  galley  which 
brought  them  over.  Another  attempt,  on  March 
1 5th,  was  equally  ineffectual. 

On  April  2d,  Lord  Percy  gave  up  the  command 
and  returned  to  England.  A  Hessian  ofiicer  wrote 
home  that  he  was  an  active  soldier  and  a  great  friend 
of  the  poor  and  distressed,  but  that  his  hope  of  recon 
ciling  the  rebel  colonies  to  the  mother  country  had 
been  rudely  disappointed. 

The  spring  clothed  the  island  with  a  beauty  of  veg 
etation  that  charmed  the  German  soldiers,  who  appre 
ciated  the  kindly  welcome  of  the  Quakers  and  Bap- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  59 

lists,  and  of  the  women  of  all  sects.  The  Guard 
regiment  was  sent  off  on  May  6th,  and  one  of  its 
officers  said  that  almost  all  the  women  shed  tears, 
good  rebels  as  they  were.  This  was  part  of  the  rein 
forcements  sent  to  New  Jersey,  to  help  atone  for  the 
wretched  close  of  the  campaign,  in  the  surprise  and 
defeat  of  the  Hessian  regiments  at  Trenton,  through 
the  unpardonable  neglect  of  their  commander.  It 
was  not  only  the  only  disaster  of  the  kind  during  the 
whole  war,  but  another  complexion  would  have  been 
given  to  the  struggle  if  this  unfortunate  affair  had 
not  strengthened  the  rebels  and  disheartened  the 
loyalists. 

When  Lord  Cornwallis  was  in  New  Brunswick, 
Gen.  Howe,  turning  the  command  in  New  York  over 
to  Gen.  Heister,  came  to  Cornwallis'  head-quarters 
and  ordered  him  to  push  his  force  to  the  Delaware. 
Cornwallis  turned  the  command  over  to  Gen.  Grant, 
and  returned  with  Howe  to  New  York,  to  prepare  for 
a  visit  to  England,  on  leave. 

On  December  8th,  Donop  reached  the  Delaware, 
just  as  the  last  American  soldiers  had  crossed  the 
river,  and  they  saluted  him  with  a  few  shots.  Gen. 
Grant  assigned  the  winter  quarters  of  the  Guard  reg 
iment  in  New  Brunswick,  and  of  Donop's  brigade  in 
Bordentown.  Rail  came  with  his  brigade,  and  50 
Hessian  Yagers  under  Lieut,  v.  Grothausen,  20  light 
dragoons  and  six  field  pieces,  to  Trenton,  on  the 
1 4th  December.  He  had  asked  for  this  post  and  it 
was  given  him  for  the  bravery  he  had  shown  at 


60  The  German  Allies 

White  Plains  and  Fort  Washington.  Howe  Had 
promised  his  and  the  other  Hessian  regiments  which 
had  distinguished  themselves,  the  best  of  winter 
quarters. 

The  American  forces  were  dispirited  and  discour 
aged;  and  discontent,  mutiny  and  desertion  would 
have  distressed  a  man  of  less  decision  than  Wash 
ington,  and  led  to  an  early  failure  of  their  efforts  to 
secure  independence. 

The  English  troops,  on  the  other  hand,  were  eager 
to  move,  and  Howe  neglected  to  make  use  of  his 
opportunity.  His  fancied  security  led  to  careless 
ness,  and  men  and  officers  had  110  fear  of  an  attack 
from  the  American  army. 

Trenton  was  then  a  village  of  130  houses,  sur 
rounded  by  woods,  divided  by  the  Assanpink,  a 
branch  of  the  Delaware,  into  an  upper  and  lower 
town,  connected  by  a  stone  bridge. 

On  the  road  to  Princeton,  there  was  a  woody 
height,  commanding  the  place.  It  was  so  near  the 
river,  that  the  Americans,  from  the  other  side,  could 
fire  on  it.  Another  creek,  Draw-Creek,  also  crossed 
by  a  stone  bridge,  was  on  the  road  to  Burlington  and 
Bordentown,  where  Donop  lay  with  his  Hessians.  At 
the  bridge,  there  was  an  outpost  of  12  men,  with  a 
non-commissioned  officer,  detached  from  the  main 
guard  of  70  men  and  one  officer  in  the  town.  North 
ward,  on  Pennington  Hill,  was  another  outpost  of  20 
men,  strengthened  at  night  by  a  Yager  picket  of  15 
men.  The  regiments  were  so  quartered  that  Rail's 


In  the  American  Revolution.  61 

and  Lossberg's  were  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town, 
Knyphausen's  in  the  southern,  with  some  of  the  men 
in  the  houses  scattered  on  the  other  side  of  the 
bridges.  At  night  the  companies  must  occupy  cer 
tain  houses,  two  or  three  men  together,  as  outposts, 
from  which  to  give  the  alarm,  in  case  of  attack ;  their 
arms,  in  good  weather,  were  piled  outside  the  houses, 
guarded  by  two  or  three  sentries. 

These  were  the  only  precautions  which  Rail  took 
in  such  a  dangerous  situation  and  so  near  the  enemy. 
Neither  his  flanks  nor  his  rear  were  protected,  nor 
did  he  attempt  to  connect  with  Donop,  and  a  sentry 
was  rarely  posted.  He  himself  was  very  negligent, 
rarely  visiting  his  posts  or  his  sentries,  and  this  neg 
ligence  soon  spread  throughout  his  force. 

Bvery  where  there  were  rumors  of  an  attack  by 
the  Americans,  and  the  negroe  servants  especially 
seemed  to  know  of  such  a  plan ;  it  was  first  hinted 
and  then  told  warningly  to  Rail,  but  all  in  vain, 
and  his  conduct  was  such  a  riddle  to  his  more 
watchful  officers,  that  some  of  them  spoke  to  him 
on  the  subject. 

Major  v.  Dechow,  an  old  and  experienced  soldier, 
suggested  that  an  outwork  be  thrown  up  to  guard 
against  a  sudden  attack,  and  offered  to  build  it,  with 
the  help  of  Lieut.  Wiederhold.  Rail's  refusal  was 
very  rude  —  ending  with  "  Let  them  come.  What, 
outworks !  We  '11  meet  them  with  the  bayonet." 
Major  v.  Dechow  answered  calmly,  "  It  won't  cost 
any  thing,  and  if  it  does  no  good,  it  can  do  no 


62  The  German  Allies 

harm."  Rail,  however,  repeated  his  refusal,  and 
turned  away,  laughing. 

Later  on,  Dechow  spoke  to  him  of  the  supplies, 
and  of  fixing  on  a  place  to  which  they  could  be 
brought  in  case  of  an  attack ;  but  Rail  answered, 
"  Don't  talk  to  me  of  supplies ;  the  rebels  are  not 
coming,  and  if  they  do  and  take  me,  they  may  take 
my  last  wagon ;  let  every  wagon  go  where  it  suits." 
Old  and  experienced  Major  Matthaus  inquired  if  it 
would  not  be  well  to  place  a  detachment  at  Penning- 
ton,  to  protect  the  right  flank,  and  to  send  a  patrol 
to  Johnson's  Ferry,  on  the  river ;  but  Rail  would 
not  listen  to  them,  and  to  other  officers  who  agreed 
in  these  suggestions  —  asking  if  they  wanted  the 
detachments  to  be  taken. 

The  Americans  at  times  crossed  the  river,  and 
pushed  on  so  as  to  cut  the  communication  with 
Princeton.  When  Rail  sent  a  despatch  to  Leslie,  in 
command  at  the  latter  place,  the  two  dragoons  car 
rying  it  were  attacked  and  one  of  them  killed,  in  a 
wood,  by  a  party  of  American  sharpshooters.  When 
the  survivor  returned  with  the  news,  Rail  sent  a 
command  of  three  officers  and  one  hundred  men, 
with  a  gun,  in  the  worst  weather,  to  carry  the  des 
patch,  which  could  have  been  easily  sent  by  fifteen 
men. 

The  English  laughed  at  the  Hessians  when  they 
found  that  all  this  force  was  used  to  carry  a  des 
patch.  Rail,  instead  of  making  better  use  of  this 
occasion  for  a  reconnoisance,  ordered  the  command 


In  the  American  Revolution.  63 

to  return  at  once,  and  during  the  trying  night 
march,  many  of  the  men  fell  out  on  the  way. 

Donop  had  begged  Rail  to  entrench  himself,  and 
to  send  strong  patrols  between  Trenton  and  Borden- 
town ;  but  Rail  answered  the  Captain  of  Engineers 
Martin,  who  came  for  the  purpose,  that  u  It  was 
unnecessary ;  the  rebels  were  a  bad  set ;  "  and  later 
he  said,  "  The  enemy  had  landed  several  times  on 
this  side,  below  the  bridge,  and  had  been  quietly 
allowed  to  withdraw,  but  now  he  was  ready  for  them  ; 
he  hoped  that  Washington  himself  would  come  over, 
that  he  might  be  taken  prisoner."  Martin  reported 
this  when  he  was  captured  at  Horen's  Hook,  August 
29,  1778. 

The  measures  taken  by  Rail  consisted  of  sending 
every  morning,  after  December  23d,  two  hours  before 
daybreak,  a  detachment  with  two  guns,  under  a  staff 
officer,  to  the  south  end  of  the  town,  and  standing 
guard  for  two  hours  at  the  office  of  the  surgeon,  and 
then  returning.  For  this  the  pickets  were  taken 
from  the  right  wing,  where  the  Pennington  Hills 
were  situated,  thus  leaving  the  north  side  entirely 
unprotected.  Rail  insisted  that  there  was  no  dan 
ger,  and  thus  walked  into  the  pitfall  which  Wash 
ington  had  dug  for  him. 

After  much  pressure,  Rail  sent  out  a  patrol,  on 
the  24th  December,  of  200  men,  under  Major  Mat- 
thaus,  to  Pennington ;  the  latter  divided  his  force, 
one-half,  under  Captain  Steding,  going  to  Johnson's 
Ferry,  on  the  Delaware ;  the  other,  Matthaus  took 


64  The  German  Allies 

towards  Pennington.  He  was  soon  followed  by  Rail 
himself,  with  the  British  dragoons.  In  a  couple  of 
hours  Steding  rejoined  Matthaus  and  the  return  was 
then  quietly  made.  Nothing  was  seen  of  the  enemy. 
There  had  been  a  few  shots  from  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  and  Matthaus  thought  he  heard  a  drum  in 
a  wood. 

The  officers  looked  on  their  situation  and  Rail's 
conduct  as  very  serious.  The  staff  officers  of  Loss- 
berg's  regiment  determined  to  write  to  Gen.  v.  Heis- 
ter,  but  their  letter  was  too  late.  Lieut.-Col.  Scheifer 
worried  himself  sick  in  his  anxiety. 

Gen.  Grant  was  as  negligent  as  Rail ;  for  when  the 
latter  wrote  to  him  of  sending  a  detachment  to  Maid 
enhead,  to  ensure  better  communication  between 
Trenton  and  Princeton,  Grant  made  a  rude  reply 
and  spoke  contemptuously  of  the  rebels,  declaring 
that  he  could  hold  the  Jerseys  with  a  corporal's 
guard.  However,  he  ordered  Leslie  to  send  a  patrol 
from  Princeton,  and  Rail  one  from  Trenton,  of  twenty 
or  thirty  men,  every  two  or  three  days.  The  first 
patrol  from  Leslie  came  to  Trenton  on  the  24th,  with 
a  message  from  Leslie  to  Rail,  that  he  must  be  on 
the  lookout,  for  Washington  was  preparing  to  cross 
the  Delaware,  and  would  attack  one  or  the  other.* 

Rail  received  other  warning,  too.  Shortly  before 
the  26th,  two  American  deserters  came  in  and  reported 
that  Washington  had  issued  four  days'  rations  to  his 

*  Reuber  says,  in  his  diary,  that  Leslie  sent  three  English  regiments, 
which  halted  in  front  of  Rail's  quarters;  but  he  at  once  sent  them  back. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  65 

men,  and  that  it  was  reported  that  he  was  about 
crossing  the  Delaware,  to  attack  Trenton. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  a  citizen  of  Trenton 
named  Wahl  [sic]  called  on  Rail  and  warned  him 
that  he  would  be  attacked  and  ought  to  be  on  his 
guard.  Rail  replied,  laughing,  "  Let  them  come," 
but  sent  out  neither  a  patrol  nor  a  spy — made  no 
preparation ;  not  even  choosing  a  point  for  assem 
bling  or  a  line  of  retreat.  His  six  guns,  instead  of 
being  distributed,  were  in  front  of  his  quarters  on  the 
market  square,  as  if  for  show. 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  two  pickets  on  the 
north  side  were  suddenly  attacked,  and  in  the  fight 
six  men  were  wounded.  The  Americans  withdrew. 
In  the  town,  the  force  was  under  arms,  but  when 
Rail  heard  the  result,  he  simply  ordered  the  outer 
picket  to  be  strengthened  by  an  officer  with  ten  men, 
and  thirty  men  with  an  ensign  were  sent  to  the  point 
where  the  enemy  had  retreated.  Hardly  had  they 
gone  two  miles,  when  they  were  ordered  back.  Rail 
allowed  the  regiments  to  disperse,  ordering  only  his 
own,  which  was  on  duty  that  day,  to  remain  in  their 
barracks.  He  himself  went  to  an  evening  entertain 
ment,  thinking  the  attack  was  that  which  Leslie  had 
warned  him  of,  and  that  it  was  all  at  an  end. 

It  was  Christmas  eve,  dark  and  stormy  —  and  the 
Hessians  were  to  receive  an  awful  Christmas  present. 
When  the  officer  with  his  ten  men  reached  his  post, 
he  put  seven  on  picket  and  ordered  them  to  march 
carefully  over  the  prescribed  line. 
9 


66  The  German  Allies 

The  morning  of  the  25th  was  half  an  hour  begun, 
the  last  sentry  had  returned  and  reported  all  quiet, 
and  as  the  Yagers  had  withdrawn  their  night  guard, 
the  officer  in  advance  did  the  same  thing.  It  was  a 
wretched,  stormy  night — raining  and  snowing — and 
the  driving  storm  forced  the  men  to  seek  shelter 
wherever  they  could  find  it. 

No  one  expected  an  attack — the  officer  himself  had 
just  come  out  of  a  little  house,  when  the  enemy  came 
in  sight,  and  all  were  taken  prisoners ;  for  the  men 
had  just  left  their  guns  on  the  rack,  and  the  sentries 
were  looking  for  shelter.  The  officer  took  the  Amer 
icans,  at  first,  for  his  own  patrol,  but  suddenly  dis 
covering  the  truth,  cried  out,  "  The  enemy  !  "  The 
attacking  force  fired  three  times  before  the  picket 
could  seize  their  arms  and  fire,  and  on  all  sides,  as  if 
out  of  the  earth,  the  enemy  came  in  force,  surround 
ing  the  picket ;  which,  however,  succeeded  in  retiring, 
firing. 

In  Trenton  the  alarm  was  sounded  with  bugles  and 
drums.  Lossberg's  regiment  was  the  quickest  to 
gather,  and  the  company  of  Capt.  v.  Altenbockum, 
which  lay  in  the  outer  row  of  houses,  took  position 
across  the  street  in  front  of  its  quarters,  and  as  the 
retreating  pickets  fell  back,  gathered  them  up  on  its 
right ;  the  captain,  however,  to  prevent  being  cut  off 
— for  he  heard  firing  on  the  other  side — drew  nearer 
to  the  rest  of  the  regiment. 

Meanwhile,  part  of  Rail's  regiment,  which  was  on 
duty  that  night,  came  up.  After  a  while,  Col.  Rail 


In  the  American  Revolution.  67 

arrived,  on  horseback  and  in  great  excitement.  The 
officer  of  the  post  first  attacked  went  np  and  gave  his 
report.  Rail  asked  how  strong  was  the  enemy.  The 
officer  replied  that  he  could  not  say  positively,  but 
three  battalions  came  against  him  and  he  saw  two 
more  come  out  of  the  woods. 

By  this  time  they  were  surrounded.  Rail  rode  up 
to  the  front  of  his  regiment  and  halting  there,  cried 
out,  "  Forward,  march  !  advance  !  advance  !  "  But  it 
was  impossible  to  resist  the  strong  attack  of  the 
Americans,  with  his  disorganized  little  band. 

The  Americans  pushed  forward  with  their  guns  and 
attacked  the  colonel's  quarters.  The  battery  posted 
there  opened  fire,  but  was  soon  captured.  The  Gren 
adiers  threw  themselves  wildly  on  the  enemy  and 
recovered  their  guns,  but  Rail  moved  off  to  the  right, 
in  an  apple  orchard,  to  attack  the  enemy  on  the  road 
to  Princeton,  and  was  met  with  a  hot  fire. 

Lieut.-Col.  Scheffer,  in  command  of  the  Lossberg 
regiment,  ordered  an  advance,  to  try  to  break  through 
and  join  Rail. 

The  Americans  had  come  in  increasing  force  into 
the  city  and  fired  from  houses  and  gardens.  Rail  hit 
upon  the  idea  (some  said  in  order  to  recover  the  bag 
gage  left  in  the  town)  of  returning  and  retaking  the 
place.  He  pressed  on  with  his  two  regiments,  cry 
ing  out,  "  All  who  are  my  Grenadiers,  forward !  " 
but  was  met  by  a  destructive  fire. 

The  Hessians  could  do  nothing  with  the  bayonet, 
for  there  was  no  enemy  in  mass  or  line  in  sight — the 


68  The  German  Allies 

deadly  bullets  came  from  the  riflemen  behind  walls 
and  trees,  out  of  windows  and  doors,  under  cover.  It 
literally  rained  balls  and  cartridges.  The  guns  of 
the  Hessians  were  made  useless  by  the  wet  weather, 
and  their  fire  became  steadily  weaker,  while  that  of 
the  Americans  became  stronger.  The  artillery,  too, 
was  unlucky ;  the  guns  with  Rail's  regiment  fired 
only  six  times,  when  men  or  horses  were  disabled ; 
those  of  the  Lossberg  regiment  were  left  in  a  marsh. 

Order  was  soon  lost,  men  left  their  ranks,  and  the 
two  regiments  were  all  confused ;  many  officers  were 
killed  or  wounded  ;  Rail  himself  fell  from  his  horse 
with  two  wounds  and  Lieut. -Col.  Scheffer  took  com 
mand.  Of  Lossberg's  regiment  only  five,  of  Rail's 
only  four  officers,  wrere  left ;  Lieut. -Col.  Brethauer 
was  wounded. 

Lieut. -Col.  Scheffer  advised  with  Majors  v.  Han- 
stein  and  Matthaus  and  they  agreed  that  the  only 
thing  left  was  to  cut  a  way  out.  Under  continuous 
fire,  they  drew  the  two  regiments  out  of  the  town, 
on  the  road  to  Maidenhead ;  but  the  bridge  was  cut 
off  by  the  Americans  in  two  lines,  with  their  artil 
lery,  forming  a  half  circle  around  the  town,  so  that 
it  was  impossible  to  break  through.  To  avoid  a  fur 
ther  useless  loss  of  blood,  the  rest  of  these  regiments 
surrendered. 

Very  much  the  same  was  the  course  of  affairs  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  town.  Here  Knyphausen's 
regiment  lay ;  on  the  alarm,  it  rallied  and  formed  in 
front  of  the  quarters  of  Major  v.  Dechow,  on  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  69 

Princeton  road.  The  major  waited  for  orders,  and 
as  the  fire  increased,  detached  a  company  to  ensure 
the  communication  between  the  town  and  the  bridge, 
and  another  to  hold  the  entrance  from  Princeton. 

With  the  three  remaining  companies  he  moved  off 
toward  the  upper  town,  to  support  the  regiments 
attacked  there.  As  he  got  part  way,  Rail  rode  up 
and  ordered  him  to  move  to  the  left,  to  the  church, 
and  hardly  had  he  moved  in  that  direction  before 
Rail's  regiment  came  back,  driven  by  the  heavy  fire 
of  the  enemy.  Here  Rail  tried  to  draw  off  into  an 
orchard,  to  protect  his  men  from  the  destructive  fire ; 
the  Knyphausen  regiment  followed  and  was  joined 
again  by  its  two  detached  companies. 

When  Rail  went  forward  to  attack  with  his  two 
regiments,  Major  v.  Dechow,  who  saw  there  was  no 
hope,  again  fell  back,  in  order  to  get  to  the  bridge, 
and  hold  it,  or,  if  it  was  taken  by  the  enemy,  to 
recapture  it  and,  if  possible,  maintain  communication 
with  Donop. 

Just  at  this  important  point,  Dechow  was  severely 
wounded.  At  the  same  time,  the  two  regimental 
guns  stuck  fast  in  a  marsh,  and  valuable  time  was 
lost  in  halting  to  drag  them  out.  When  the  regi 
ment  at  last  moved  forward,  it  came  out  on  unknown 
ground,  through  a  deep  hollow,  and  finally  on  a  hill 
covered  with  trees,  behind  which  the  creek  flowed. 
Here  the  regiment  halted.  Staff-Captain  Baum  went 
in  advance  to  consult  the  major,  but  as  he  came  in 
front  of  the  regiment,  instead  of  the  major  he  met 


70  The  German  Allies 

Captain  v.  Biesenroth,  who  told  him  that  the  major 
had  ridden  over  the  hill  to  make  a  favorable  surren 
der  with  the  enemy,  as  the  two  other  regiments  had 
already  been  captured  and  the  bridge  taken.  Both 
officers  disapproved  the  major's  conduct,  and  con 
sulted  as  to  some  way  of  breaking  through.  To 
force  a  passage  over  the  bridge  was  impossible,  and 
they  tried  to  get  across  the  creek.  Capt.  v.  Biesen 
roth,  as  senior,  took  the  responsibility.  The  staff- 
captain  was  the  first  to  spring  into  the  water,  fol 
lowed  by  the  non-commissioned  officers,  so  that  when 
they  got  over,  they  could  carry  over  the  colors  and 
thus  save  them.  The  water  was  up  to  their  necks 
and  the  opposite  bank  was  so  steep  that  it  was  hard 
to  get  up.  Others  crossed  at  better  points.  Some 
succeeded ;  more,  however,  fell  on  the  way.  At  the 
same  time,  those  who  had  crossed  found  that  the 
enemy's  guns  were  posted  on  the  opposite  hill,  in 
front  of  the  regiment,  so  that  it  was  cut  off  and  cap 
tured.  The  part  that  had  crossed  reached  Princeton. 
The  English  cavalry  and  the  Yagers  were  also  there. 
They  had  escaped  by  fighting  their  way  through,  but 
Lieut,  v.  Grothausen  was  reproached  with  having 
retreated  too  soon. 

In  two  hours,  all  was  over.  Col.  Rail  had  paid 
with  his  life  the  penalty  of  his  carelessness,  and  left 
a  dark  shadow  on  his  hitherto  glorious  career.  Death 
had  saved  him  from  answering  for  his  neglect,  for 
Munchhausen  says  that  if  he  had  not  lost  his  life,  he 
would  have  lost  his  head.  He  died  as  a  brave  sol- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  71 

dier ;  when  lie  fell  from  His  horse,  two  old  non-com 
missioned  officers  raised  and  supported  him ;  just 
then  Washington  came  up  and  the  two  regiments 
presented  arms.  Pale  and  covered  with  blood,  Rail 
surrendered  his  sword.  In  a  few  broken  words,  he 
begged  Washington  to  be  kind  to  his  men,  and  Wash 
ington  promised  that  he  would,  and  in  a  friendly  and 
sympathetic  way  tried  to  console  him.  He  had  the 
dying  man  carried  to  the  house  of  a  well-to-do  Qua 
ker  family  and  commended  him  to  their  care. 

Before  Washington  left  Trenton,  in  company  with 
Gen.  Greene,  he  visited  the  dying  man,  and  both 
generals  expressed  their  respect  and  regret.  Rail 
again  asked  that  his  captured  men  be  kindly  treated 
and  their  effects  returned  to  them,  and  this  was 
sacredly  promised. 

Rail  died  the  same  evening  and  was  buried  with 
due  ceremony  in  the  Presbyterian  church-yard.  One 
of  the  officers  of  Lossberg's  regiment  said  that  he 
died  gladly,  rather  than  outlive  his  honor. 

Little  can  be  said  in  defense  of  Rail.  The  night 
before  the  attack  he  had  been  carousing,  and  he  was 
still  in  bed  when  the  first  shots  were  fired.  Lieut. 
Biel,  his  regimental  adjutant,  had  been  up  since  five 
o'clock,  and  on  hearing  the  firing,  hurried  to  the 
colonel,  but  could  hardly  waken  him,  much  less  get 
him  to  act.  Biel  hastened  to  the  main  guard,  where 
Lieut.  Sternickel  was  posted  with  40  men,  and  sent 
him,  with  all  the  force  he  could  spare,  to  support  the 
picket.  Hurrying  back  to  the  colonel's  quarters,  he 


72  The  German  Allies 

found  him  in  his  night-shirt,  lying  on  the  window  ; 
to  the  question,  "  What 's  the  matter  ?  "  the  adjutant 
asked  if  the  colonel  had  not  heard  the  firing,  and 
Rail  answered  that  he  would  come  at  once,  and  was 
soon  at  the  door,  in  uniform. 

Biel  said  later,  at  the  investigation,  that  Rail  paid 
no  attention  to  his  duties,  and  only  cared  for  his 
pleasure.  The  adjutant  had  to  attend  to  the  corres 
pondence.  One  post  the  colonel  had  never  visited, 
and  he  never  advised  with  his  officers.  He  worried 
officers  and  men  by  all  sorts  of  annoyances  and  kept 
300  men  always  on  duty.  The  men  were  worn  out, 
and  he  neglected  to  give  them  time  to  clean  their 
arms. 

When  Major  v.  Dechow  called  his  attention  to  the 
want  of  shoes  and  asked  him  to  order  them  from  New 
York,  Rail  replied,  u  That  was  nonsense ;  he  would 
lead  the  brigade  in  bare  feet  over  the  ice  to  Philadel 
phia,  and  if  Major  Dechow  did  not  want  to  share  the 
honor,  he  might  stay  behind." 

When  Major  v.  Hanstein  asked  if  there  were  to 
be  good  winter  quarters  in  Trenton,  Rail  answered, 
"  Oh  !  we  '11  get  those  in  Philadelphia." 

On  the  other  hand,  Rail  was  a  warm  friend  and 
good  comrade.  Biel  wrote  home  that  he  "  mourned 
his  death ;  that  his  bravery  at  Fort  Washington  had 
secured  the  command  at  Trenton  from  How^e.  He 
was  more  a  friend  than  a  commander,"  Another 
officer  wrote  in  his  diary,  "  Rail  was  a  good  soldier, 
but  not  a  good  general.  He  had  courage  to  execute 


In  the  American  Revolution.  73 

the  boldest  things,  under  orders,  but  wanted  cool 
presence  of  mind  to  take  the  necessary  measures  at 
such  a  time  as  the  attack  at  Trenton." 

Gen.  v.  Schlieffen  says  that  Rail  showed  the  great 
est  courage  in  his  early  campaign,  under  Orloff,  as 
volunteer  in  the  Russian  war  with  the  Turks,  but 
paid  with  his  life  the  penalty  of  underestimating  the 
enemy  at  Trenton. 

He  fancied  that  his  name  alone  would  keep  him 
safe.  There  is  a  report  that  Rail  was  betrayed  by  his 
host,  a  Dutchman  named  van  Dassel,  who  brought 
four  strangers  to  a  supper  given  by  Rail  on  Christ 
mas  eve.  When  Rail  woke  up,  van  Dassel  fired  at 
him,  but  missing  him,  hit  the  servant  who  held  Rail's 
horse.  The  four  strangers  were  said  to  have  been 
American  officers.  Van  Dassel  was  seized  by  Em 
merich,  the  leader  of  the  Hanau  volunteers,  and  sent 
to  New  York. 

A  few  days  before  the  attack  Rail  was  visited  by 
some  men  who  said  they  had  property  near  Trenton 
and  wanted  his  protection.  They,  too,  were  officers 
from  Washington's  camp,  who  were  gathering  infor 
mation  for  him. 

Tradition  says  that  Rail  surrendered  to  his  own 
uncle,  who  had  emigrated  many  years  before,  from 
the  Pfaltz,  and  was  then  a  colonel  in  the  American 
army. 

The  Hessians  showed  in  this  critical  affair  all  their 
old  courage  and  fought  as  well  as  possible.  If  they 
had  been  better  led,  no  such  bad  fortune  would  have 

IO 


74  The  German  Allies 

followed.  Rail  either  lost  His  head,  or  would  not 
retreat  before  the  enemy  he  despised.  As  his  well- 
disciplined  troops  rallied  promptly,  he  had  time  to 
pass  the  bridge,  to  get  into  the  open  country,  and  to 
fall  back  to  Donop's  quarters.  Instead,  he  pressed 
forward  to  attack  the  Americans  and  failed,  and  while 
he  was  thus  engaged,  leaving  the  place,  it  was  occu 
pied  from  the  other  side.  When  he  changed  his  plan 
and  tried  to  regain  the  town,  he  was  between  two 
fires,  and  lost  a  regiment  entirely. 

There  was  no  good  leadership ;  no  combination. 
The  Hessians  fought  as  long  as  they  could  —  not  to 
save  themselves,  but  as  a  duty,  which  they  fulfilled 
to  the  last  minute.  The  enemy  recognized  and 
acknowledged  their  bravery. 

Washington,  in  his  report  of  December  27th,  to 
Congress,  said :  "  The  advance  guard  made  a  slight 
resistance,  and,  considering  their  number,  held  their 
position  as  long  as  was  possible,  and  in  retreating 
kept  up  fire  from  the  cover  of  the  houses.  We  saw 
the  troops  form  promptly,  but  from  their  movements 
it  was  clear  that  they  w^ere  uncertain  what  to  do." 

Another  American  officer  commends  the  bold  resist 
ance  of  the  Hessians,  and  says  they  were  in  a  position 
where  the  bravest  soldiers  had  to  yield. 

But  for  the  detachment  posted  on  the  north,  not  a 
man  could  have  escaped — and  this  was  left  there  by 
accident ;  for  the  order  was  to  relieve  it  every  morn 
ing  and  double  the  force  on  the  south.  Major  v. 
Dechow,  who  was  officer  of  the  day  on  the  25th, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  75 

failed  to  give  the  necessary  orders ;  when  it  was 
reported  to  him  that  the  two  guns  assigned  his  com 
mand  were  ready  to  move,  he  said  he  did  not  need 
them,  and  the  horses  were  unharnessed,  and  the  ruin 
was  all  the  more  complete. 

At  Burlington,  where  Donop  stood,  Cadwalder  made 
a  demonstration,  not  intending  to  attack,  but  only  to 
prevent  help  being  sent  to  Trenton.  Donop,  gener 
ally  so  cautious,  allowed  himself  to  be  led  on  and 
followed  the  Americans  to  Mount  Holly.  He  pur 
sued  with  the  greater  part  of  his  force — the  Forty- 
second  regiment,  the  Grenadier  battalions  of  Linsin- 
gen  and  Block,  and  a  Hessian  Yager  company  under 
Captain  Ewald.  The  last-named  officer  had  already 
turned  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  taken  two  light 
guns,  and  cut  off  a  hostile  force  which  had  crossed 
the  stream  that  divides  Mount  Holly  in  two  parts. 

When  Donop  heard  the  cannon  at  Trenton,  he 
recalled  Ewald,  and  so  the  latter  was  obliged  to  lose 
his  captures. 

Donop  drew  his  detached  forces  together  at  once, 
and  tried  to  reach  Cross  wicks,  so  as  to  keep  open  the 
road  to  Princeton,  where  Gen.  Grant  had  a  force. 
To  cover  his  retreat,  he  left  Ewald  with  a  rear  guard 
of  90  men — Scots,  Grenadiers  and  Yagers — and  with 
positive  orders  to  hold  the  place  until  the  last  man 
had  fallen,  and  at  all  hazard  until  midnight.  The 
task  was  a  difficult  one ;  the  inhabitants  were  bitter 
enemies  of  the  royal  cause,  and  Ewald  knew  that 
arms  and  ammunition  were  hidden  in  the  village — 


76  The  German  Allies 

the  native  population  could  use  them  at  any  minute 
on  his  little  band. 

There  were  two  bridges  which  made  the  approach 
of  the  enemy  easy.  Ewald  showed  his  energy  and 
readiness  by  the  way  he  acted.  He  covered  the 
bridges  and  the  nearest  houses  with  straw,  and  then 
summoning  the  leading  people,  told  them  that  the 
moment  there  was  any  outbreak  he  would  set  fire  to 
the  place.  As  Mount  Holly  was  a  well-to-do  village, 
and  the  shops  were  full  of  valuable  goods,  his  pre 
caution  was  effective,  and  he  remained  undisturbed 
until  midnight,  then  withdrew  and  joined  Donop  at 
Crosswicks.  Ewald  had  no  intention  to  burn  the 
village,  but  his  threat  enabled  him  to  hold  it  quietly. 

The  loss  of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton  was  17  killed, 
78  wounded,  84  officers,  25  musicians  and  759  enlisted 
men  prisoners — in  all,  963  ;  besides  the  Yager  bat 
talion,  398  men  escaped.  Major  v.  Dechow  died  in 
Trenton,  soon  after,  of  his  wounds.  Lossberg's  regi 
ment  suffered  most;  it  lost  27  killed  and  wounded— 
Captains  v.  Benning  and  Riese,  as  well  as  Lieutenant 
Kimm,  were  killed ;  Captain  v.  Altenbockum,  Lieu 
tenants  Zoll  and  Schwabe  wounded.  Many  of  its 
officers  were  left  sick  or  wounded  in  New  York,  and 
it  brought  to  Philadelphia  only  199. 

The  Americans  lost  only  two  killed,  two  frozen, 
and  four  or  five  wounded. 

If  Washington's  plan  of  a  surprise  had  been  car 
ried  out,  it  would  have  cut  off  those  who  did  escape, 
and  might  have  ensured  the  capture  of  Donop, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  77 

although  he  was  more  watchful  than  Rail.  Wash 
ington  had  divided  his  force  into  four  bodies ;  one,  of 
2,500  men  and  20  guns,  he  led  on  the  evening  of  the 
25th,  across  the  river  nine  miles  above  Trenton. 
Once  over,  he  detached  Gen.  Sullivan,  with  a  strong 
force,  to  go  around  and  to  attack  Trenton  on  the 
south.  Gen.  Ewing  was  ordered  to  cross  the  Dela 
ware  a  mile  below  Trenton,  to  seize  the  bridge  over 
the  Assanpink,  and  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  gar 
rison  to  Bordentown.  Gen.  Putnam  was  to  cross, 
with  Gen.  Cadwalader,  at  Burlington,  and  make  a 
feint  attack  on  the  lower  posts  of  Donop's  command, 
so  as  to  prevent  help  being  sent  to  Rail.  The  two, 
however,  were  prevented  by  the  heavy  ice  from  cross 
ing  all  their  force. 

Gen.  Putnam  could  only  send  Col.  Griffin,  with  500 
militia,  across — much  too  small  a  body  to  meet  Do- 
nop's  2,000  men — so  he  was  ordered  only  to  hold 
them  and  prevent  their  going  to  Trenton.  The  plan 
succeeded,  and  Donop  followed  the  retreating  enemy 
to  Mount  Holly,  twelve  miles  from  his  own  position 
and  eighteen  from  Trenton. 

The  misfortune  that  befell  the  Hessians  is  not  due 
to  Rail  alone,  but  to  the  British  generals,  who  sepa 
rated  their  forces  at  such  distances.  The  outposts 
had  neither  the  necessary  communication  with  one 
another,  nor  sufficient  supports.  Howe  acknowledged 
this  in  his  report  of  December  2oth,  to  Lord  Germain, 
in  which  he  said  "  The  troops  are  scattered  too  much, 
but  the  loyal  inhabitants  of  Burlington  and  Mon- 


78  The  German  Allies 

mouth  county  want  protection."  Others  reproached 
him  with  sending  the  Hessians  so  far  into  the  coun 
try,  when,  through  their  strange  language  and  the 
rumor  of  their  cruelties,  they  were  so  much  hated. 
The  fact  was,  that  they  were  more  feared  than  hated 
— and  this  was  shown  by  the  greater  kindness  shown 
to  the  captured  Germans  by  the  natives. 

The  Hessians  who  were  so  hardly  treated  by  the 
fortunes  of  war  at  Trenton,  had  a  bitter  experience 
in  the  sudden  change  from  victory  to  defeat  and  im 
prisonment. 

In  Cassel  it  was  reported  that  of  8,000  men,  only 
800  had  escaped,  and  the  whole  of  Germany  was 
stirred  up  by  the  news. 

The  bitter  feeling  of  the  Americans  against  Eng 
land  and  her  allied  troops  might  well  cause  harsh 
treatment  of  the  prisoners,  and  this  was  sometimes 
the  case,  but  there  were  many  instances  of  kindness. 

During  the  fighting,  a  body  of  soldiers  moved  for 
ward  and  formed  with  their  flag ;  Washington,  who 
thought  it  was  to  make  further  resistance,  ordered 
his  men  to  prepare  to  fire,  when  one  of  his  adjutants 
called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  flag  was  reversed, 
in  sign  of  surrender.  Washington  rode  up  and 
received  the  salute,  and,  after  saying  a  few  kind 
words,  ordered  an  escort  to  take  the  prisoners  safely 
across  the  river.  The  officers,  twenty-four  in  all, 
were  left  in  a  little  ferry  house,  while  the  men,  with 
little  food  or  clothing,  were  taken  to  the  other  side. 
In  the  morning,  they  were  all  taken  to  Newtown, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  79 

where  the  other  prisoners  filled  trie  churches,  prison 
and  other  buildings.  Col.  Weedon  was  in  command, 
and  showed  much  kindness.  The  officers  were 
paroled  and  quartered  in  private  houses.  They  paid 
their  respects  to  Lord  Stirling,  who  had  been  taken 
by  the  Hessians  at  Long  Island  and  exchanged. 
They  had  treated  him  very  kindly,  and  he  tried  to 
return  it.  He  said,  "  Your  Gen.  Heister  treated  me 
like  a  brother,  when  I  was  his  prisoner,  and  I  will  do 
what  I  can  for  you."  He  took  them  to  Gen.  Wash 
ington,  who  invited  many  of  them  to  dine  with  him. 
He  was  a  very  gracious  host,  and  at  table  told  one  of 
the  Hessian  officers  that  the  American  force  was  6,000 
men,  with  14  guns  and  two  howitzers.  He  received 
the  Hessian  officers  with  great  courtesy.  A  Hessian 
officer  says  in  his  diary :  "  His  countenance  is  not 
that  of  a  great  hero ;  his  eyes  have  no  fire,  but  a 
friendly  smile  when  he  speaks  inspires  love  and 
affection.  He  is  a  courtly  man  of  fine  aspect,  pol 
ished  and  somewhat  restrained ;  says  little,  has  a 
shrewd  look,  is  of  middle  height  and  a  good  figure." 
Among  the  officers  there,  was  the  one  who  had  been 
at  the  first  outpost  attacked  and  gave  the  order  to  fire 
on  the  Americans.  Washington  was  particularly 
attentive  to  him,  praising  his  conduct,  but  spoke  of 
the  unfortunate  Rail  with  the  greatest  consideration 
and  sympathy,  and  took  no  notice  of  the  somewhat 
harsh  criticism  by  the  young  officer  of  his  com 
mander.  In  Lieut.  Widerh old's  diary  he  says  :  "  On 
the  28th  we  dined  with  Gen.  Washington.  He  did 


8o  The  German  Allies 

me  the  honor  of  talking  with  me  about  the  battle  at 
Trenton,  and  when  I  said  frankly  that  we  had  man 
aged  things  badly,  and  that  we  onght  not  to  have 
been  captured  there,  he  asked  what  I  would  have 
done.  I  pointed  out  the  mistakes  on  our  side,  and 
how  we  could  have  escaped,  and  he  praised  me  for 
this  and  for  my  watchfulness,  and  for  my  stout 
resistance  with  my  handful  of  men.  He  also  gave 
me  leave  to  go  on  parole  to  Trenton  to  collect  my 
effects  left  there  'in  the  retreat." 

The  prisoners  did  not  stay  long  in  Newtown,  but 
were  sent  on  the  29th  and  3Oth  to  the  southern  prov 
inces — the  officers  being  separated  from  their  men. 
The  prisoners  were  sent  to  Virginia,  as  yet  not  the 
scene  of  aii}^  hostilities,  their  journey  being  through 
Philadelphia,  and  five  wagons  being  given  to  the  offi 
cers.  Great  crowds  gathered  at  every  place  to  see 
the  dreaded  Hessians,  whose  reputation  had  spread 
far  and  wide.  Many  expected  to  see  wild  robbers 
and  murderers,  with  terrible  angry  faces — devils  in 
human  form — and  beheld  only  neat  soldiers,  preserv 
ing,  even  in  their  misfortune,  cleanliness,  order  and 
discipline.  They  were  looked  upon  with  astonish 
ment,  and  sometimes  with  real  or  affected  anger,  and 
then  they  were  abused  and  even  stones  were  thrown 
at  them. 

In  Philadelphia,  many  of  the  officers  paid  their 
respects  to  old  Gen.  Putnam  on  New  Year's  day,  and 
were  received  in  a  very  friendly  way.  One  of  them 
says :  u  He  gave  each  of  us  his  hand  and  we  must 


In  the   American   Revolution.  81 

drink  a  glass  of  Madeira  with  him.  He  may  be  an 
honorable  man,  but  only  the  rebels  would  have  made 
him  a  general." 

The  officers  were  escorted  to  Baltimore  and  were 
assigned  to  the  village  of  Diimfries.  They  began 
their  march  on  January  i8th,  escorted  by  Lieut.  Lin- 
denberger,  a  German,  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade.  The 
Potomac  was  frozen  so  that  wagons  could  cross  it. 
The  country  was  Avild  and  woody,  the  journey  very 
severe,  owing  to  rain  and  bad  roads. 

On  the  24th,  they  reached  Dumfries.  The  inhab 
itants  are  described  in  the  letters  of  a  German  officer 
printed  in  Schlozer's  Correspondence,  as  very  hospit 
able.  The  German  officers  were  involved  in  the 
quarrel  over  the  exchange  of  Gen.  Lee.  Washing 
ton  thought  Lee  was  hardly  treated  in  having  a  sen 
try  posted  before  his  door.  As  Howe  would  not 
accept  Washington's  terms  of  exchange,  nor  yield  to 
the  threat  of  reprisal,  in  March,  1777,  the  six  staff 
officers  of  the  Hessian  prisoners  at  Dumfries  were 
put  under  sentries,  too.  This  lasted  until  August, 
when  the  British  Gen.  Prescot  was  captured  in  Rhode 
Island.  As  he  was  of  equal  rank  with  Lee,  their 
treatment  was  improved,  and  on  the  27th  August 
they  were  released  from  close  confinement. 

When  the  British  fleet  appeared  in  the  Chesapeake, 
the  imprisoned  Hessians  were  sent  from  Dumfries 
and  Lancaster,  where  the  enlisted  men  were  quar 
tered,  some  80  miles  further  inland,  to  Winchester,  a 
place  of  150  houses,  mostly  wooden,  where  the  officers 
ii 


82  The  German  Allies 

were  quartered  in  hotels.  At  the  end  of  September, 
Congress  decided  to  send  the  officers  to  Staunton,  a 
hundred  miles  south  of  Winchester,  and  to  send  300 
of  the  men  to  the  latter  place ;  but  as  it  was  reputed 
to  be  a  very  poor  place,  the  officers  petitioned  Con 
gress  to  be  sent  to  Fredericksburg,  and  on  the  3Oth 
September,  they  were  ordered  to  Millerstown,  to  wait 
the  answer.  There  they  found  it  impossible  to  get 
quarters  for  twenty-eight  officers,  and  some  were  sent 
to  Stowentown[?]. 

On  December  8th,  Congress  granted  the  request 
to  go  to  Fredericksburg.  The  Hessian  officers  had 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  Americans,  so  that  each 
was  allowed  to  choose  his  own  time  to  go  there. 
Some  went  by  way  of  Dumfries  and  renewed  acquaint 
ance  with  old  friends  there.  On  the  i3th,  they  were 
all  in  Fredericksburg,  and  as  quarters  could  not  be 
found  there  for  the  whole  number,  some  went  to  Fal- 
mouth,  an  attractive  village  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Rappahannock,  and  found  the  stream  and  its  shores 
very  romantic  and  attractive. 

At  the  end  of  February,  the  Hessian  and  British 
officers  were  allowed  to  go  on  parole  to  Philadelphia, 
to  be  exchanged  by  Gen.  Howe. 

The  enlisted  men  left  New  Frankfort  on  the  ist  of 
January,  1777,  and  on  their  way  were  frequently 
threatened  with  violence  by  the  mob. 

Corporal  Reuber  says,  in  his  diary  :  "  Big  and  lit 
tle,  young  and  old,  looked  at  us  sharply.  The  old 
women  cried  out  that  we  ought  to  be  hanged  for 


In  the  American  Revolution.  83 

coming  to  America  to  rob  them  of  their  freedom; 
others  brought  us  bread  and  wine.  Washington  had 
ordered  our  American  guard  to  march  us  through 
the  whole  city  [of  Philadelphia  ?] ,  but  the  mob  was 
so  rough  and  threatening  that  the  commander  said, 
*  Dear  Hessians,  we  '11  go  to  the  barracks/  and  then 
drove  the  mob  off." 

Washington  quieted  the  people  by  posting  a  notice 
in  which  he  said  the  Hessians  had  not  come  volunta 
rily,  but  under  orders,  and  they  should  be  treated  as 
friends,  not  as  enemies.  This  had  the  best  result, 
and  the  prisoners  were  loaded  with  food  and  every 
kindness  shown  them.  Each  man  received  a  pound 
of  meat,  with  bread  and  vegetables,  daily. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  the  men  were  taken  to 
Lancaster,  where  they  worked  during  the  summer 
on  the  farms.  Congress  paid  them  in  money  the 
value  of  their  rations,  and  the  farmers  gave  them 
their  meals  and  pay  besides ;  but  any  one  who 
allowed  a  Hessian  prisoner  to  escape  was  fined  two 
hundred  paper  dollars.  The  non-commissioned  offi 
cers  remained  in  Philadelphia. 

On  the  king's  birthday,  June  the  4th,  the  British 
troops  imprisoned  in  the  barracks  at  Lancaster  cele 
brated  the  day  with  great  excesses,  finally  driving 
off  the  guard  of  fifteen  men,  and  were  only  subdued 
when  a  regiment  and  some  guns  were  brought  up 
and,  opening  fire,  killed  and  wounded  some  of  the 
prisoners. 

The  Hessians  kept  quietly  out  of  the  fracas,  and 


84  The   German    Allies 

were  all  the  more  kindly  treated  by  the  Americans, 
but  greatly  abused  by  the  Bnglish. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  an  English  fleet  landed 
men  on  the  Elk  river,  and  the  prisoners  were  ordered 
further  into  the  interior,  but  as  there  was  no  time  to 
collect  the  men  scattered  on  the  farms,  many  of  them 
escaped  altogether — there  were  300  Hessians.  The 
prisoners  reached  Baltimore  September  3Oth,  where 
they  were  as  badly  received  as  in  Philadelphia,  but 
the  commander  of  the  escort  gave  the  signal  to  rally 
to  their  defense  and  inarched  the  prisoners  out  of  the 
town,  and  at  a  safe  distance  had  food  and  camp  equip- 
page  brought  to  them.  When  the  Virginia  border 
was  reached,  the  Pennsylvania  escort  refused  to  go 
any  further,  fired  off  their  guns  and  went  home. 
The  escort  from  Winchester  had  not  arrived,  and  the 
American  commander  was  left  with  his  prisoners  in 
a  wild  country  ;  but  he  had  won  their  confidence,  and 
he  went  on  alone  to  Winchester  to  hasten  the  escort, 
leaving  them  for  three  days  to  follow  on  the  prescribed 
route,  and  when  the  American  captain  finally  joined 
them  again,  with  the  Virginia  escort,  there  were  all 
the  Hessians,  and  only  a  few  of  the  British  prisoners 
had  gone.  The  American  was  so  pleased  that  he 
treated  every  Hessian  to  brandy,  while  the  British 
looked  on.  The  fugitives  were  nearly  all  captured 
and  surrendered  to  the  authorities.  At  Winchester, 
the  American  commended  the  Hessians  so  warmly 
that  they  were  quartered  in  private  houses,  while  the 
British  were  put  in  prison,  and  the  Hessians  had  six 


In  the  American  Revolution.  85 

hours  of  freedom  daily,  while  the  British  could  not 
go  out  without  a  guard. 

Ou  August  26th,  1778,  the  prisoners  marched  back 
to  Philadelphia,  reaching  there  on  October  I4th,  then 
on  the  22d  going  through  Trenton,  reaching  Prince 
ton  and  Brunswick  on  the  28th,  where  they  were 
exchanged  and  received  by  a  British  commissary  and 
sent  to  the  Hessian  camp  on  Long  Island. 

"At  last,"  writes  Reuber,  "  we  were  once  more  with 
our  fellow  Hessians.  What  pleasure  and  joy  thus  to 
be  free  from  slavery !  " 


CHAPTER    IV. 


The  Brunswick  troops  marched,  like  the  Hessians, 
in  two  divisions.  The  first  left  Wolfenbuttel  on  the 
morning  of  February  22,  1776,  consisting  of 

The  Dragoon  regiment  under  Lieut.-Col. 

Baum, 336  men. 

The  Grenadier  battalion,  under  Lieut.- 
Col.  Breymann, 564  " 

The  Infantry  regiment,  "  Prince  Freder 
ick,"  Lt.-Col.  Pratorius, 680  " 

The  Infantry  regiment  of  Col.  v.  Ried- 

esel,  Lt.-Col.  v.  Speth, 680  " 

The  general  staff, 22     " 

Total, 2,282     " 


The  command  was  given  to  Col.  Frederick  Adolph 
von  Riedesel,  Freiherr  of  Eisenbach,  a  good  and 
experienced  soldier,  who  had  fought  as  officer  of 
Hussars  and  adjutant  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick  in 
the  allied  army  in  the  Seven  Years'  War,  and  won  a 
name  for  himself.  He  enjoyed  the  well-earned  con 
fidence  of  his  sovereign,  the  confidence  of  his  supe- 


88  The  German  Allies 

riors  and  the  love  and  obedience  of  His  men.  He 
belonged  to  a  wealthy  old  family,  which  is  still 
respected. 

In  addition  to  the  detail  given  in  Eelking's  Life  of 
Riedesel,  many  facts  of  interest  are  fonnd  in  the 
diary  of  Brigade-Major  v.  Papet,  in  two  volumes, 
coming  down  to  the  return  to  Germany. 

The  troops  marched  through  the  city  of  Brunswick 
with  a  great  display,  reviewed  by  the  reigning  duke 
and  by  his  brother  Ferdinand,  the  hero  of  the  Seven 
Years'  War.  With  an  army  of  12,000  men,  Bruns 
wick  found  in  the  English  money  paid  for  its  troops 
the  only  way  to  avoid  bankruptcy,  and  yet  the  duke 
hesitated  to  agree  to  the  English  terms.  He  died  in 
1780.  The  Hannoverian  Gen.  Braun  welcomed  the 
Brunswick  force  on  its  arrival  in  Hannover,  and  Col. 
Faucit,  of  the  British  army,  mustered  it  into  that 
service.  Riedesel  received  his  commission  as  major- 
general. 

During  the  whole  march,  there  was  not  a  single 
desertion.  For  the  numerous  recruits,  there  were 
two  daily  drills.  With  the  general  staff  and  77  sol 
diers'  wives,  there  were  in  all  2,367  Brunswickers  on 
board  the  ten  vessels  anchored  in  the  Elbe.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  Hannoverian  volunteers,  for  differ 
ent  British  regiments,  went  along,  under  Lieut-Col. 
Scheiter. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel  went  on  the  "  Pallas,"  and  on  the 
26th  March  the  fleet  set  sail,  anchored  on  the  28th  at 
Portsmouth,  where  on  the  3Oth  four  vessels  joined 


In  the  American  Revolution.  89 

with  the  Hesse  Hanau  regiment,  760  men,  under  Col. 
v.  Gall.  It  was  the  Crown-Prince's  regiment,  for  the 
crown  prince  of  Hesse  was  also  the  count  of  Hesse 
Hanau,  and  carried  on  a  law-suit  for  twenty-eight 
years  with  his  father,  as  to  their  claims.  The  father, 
born  in  1743,  was  a  lover  of  art  and  science,  owned  a 
fine  library,  and  needed  the  English  money  to  help 
support  his  two  extravagances — building  and  mili 
tary.  The  son  succeeded  his  father  in  1783  and  died 
in  1821,  leaving  an  evil  reputation  on  account  of  his 
avarice  and  his  severity. 

The  English  fleet  welcomed  the  troops  with  every 
honor.  Gen.  Phillips,  with  part  of  the  English  artil 
lery,  and  Gen.  Burgoyne,  also  embarked  for  Canada, 
thus  making  a  large  fleet.  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  received 
^5,000  from  the  English  commissariat. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  30  sail,  including  the  two 
frigates,  Juno  and  Blonde,  as  convoys,  each  carrying 
36  guns.  On  April  3d  it  sailed,  and  was  joined  at 
Plymouth  by  six  transports,  with  the  Twenty-first 
Scotch  Fusilier  regiment.  On  the  aoth  it  met  the 
English  fleet  of  40  sail,  with  the  Irish  regiments  on 
board,  going  to  Canada. 

On  May  i2th,  land  was  seen,  and  on  the  first  of 
June  Quebec  was  reached.  Gen.  Riedesel  went  ashore 
and  returned  with  orders  from  Gen.  Burgoyne — who 
was  in  command  during  the  absence  of  Gen.  Carle- 
ton — to  leave  the  Dragoons  and  Prince  Charles'  regi 
ment  to  strengthen  the  Quebec  garrison,  while  the 
rest  of  the  troops  went  on  to  Three  Rivers.  There 


12 


90  The  German  Allies 

Gen.  Riedesel  paid  his  respects  to  Governor  Carleton 
—one  of  the  ablest  and  most  popular  of  the  British 
officers.  He  had  entered,  the  service  in  1742,  and 
was  now  about  fifty  years  old.  In  1759  he  was  quar 
termaster-general  of  Wolf's  army.  He  had  been 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Quebec,  was  brigadier-gen 
eral  in  the  expedition  to  Havannah,  and  after  the  war 
was  made  lieutenant-governor  of  Quebec.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  honesty  and  unselfish,  winning  the 
love  and  confidence  alike  of  his  men  and  of  the 
Canadians. 

Riedesel  noted  and  reported  to  his  sovereign  the 
strained  relations  between  Carleton  and  Howe — the 
former  cold,  calm  and  stoical,  the  latter  proud  and 
intoxicated  by  the  favor  and  confidence  of  the  king 
and  his  ministers,  claiming  all  the  credit  for  himself. 

On  June  6,  Lieut.-Col.  Baum  disembarked,  with  the 
troops  to  be  stationed  at  Quebec — then  a  place  of  1,500 
wooden  houses,  for  it  had  suffered  greatly  in  the  late 
war,  and  Carleton  had  demolished  500  houses  in  the 
suburbs,  to  protect  the  town  from  a  surprise.  The 
north  side  was  covered  by  fortifications  of  earth  and 
wood,  in  great  decay.  They  were  renewed  and  armed 
with  some  eighty  iron  guns  and  some  mortars,  mostly 
taken  from  old  men-of-war. 

The  year  before,  Carleton  had  been  hard  pressed 
to  resist  the  American  attack  under  Montgomery  and 
Arnold — the  former  had  fallen,  and  Arnold  withdrew 
on  receiving  the  news  of  the  arrival  of  more  British 
troops. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  91 

Carleton,  on  arrival  of  the  Germans,  determined 
to  send  them  to  the  relief  of  Montreal,  still  besieged 
by  the  Americans,  and  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  received  com 
mand  of  a  corps,  consisting  of  the  Riedesel  and  Hesse 
Hanau  regiments,  the  Brunswick  Grenadier  battalion, 
the  British  regiment  of  McLean,  a  division  of  Cana 
dian  troops,  and  a  band  of  Indians.  He  was  to  move 
up  the  south  shore  from  Three  Rivers,  while  Bur- 
goyne  went,  with  an  English  force,  up  the  north 
shore. 

The  German  general  was  not  a  little  astonished  at 
the  Indian  force,  for  he  knew  nothing  of  their  cus 
toms  or  way  of  fighting,  and  had  heard  only  bad 
reports  of  both.  They  were  Abenakis,  Iroquois, 
Utawas  and  Hurons,  and  to  show  their  fiery  temper 
they  had  painted  their  eyelids  red,  and  smeared  their 
new  uniforms  with  red  as  a  mark  that  they  were  to 
fight  for  life,  or  to  the  death.  They  were  armed  with 
long  shot-guns  and  sharp  knives,  to  use  in  taking 
scalps. 

On  the  yth  of  June  the  expedition  started,  reaching 
Trois  Rivieres  on  the  nth.  Here  they  learned  of 
two  skirmishes,  on  the  8th  and  Qth,  in  which  Lieut- 
Col.  v.  Speth,  with  part  of  Riedesel's  regiment,  had 
taken  part.  The  Americans,  with  a  force  of  1,500 
men,  had  made  an  attack  on  Frazer's  corps  of  300, 
and  were  making  preparations  to  surround  it.  Their 
guide  was  a  royalist,  who  led  them  so  far  out  into  the 
forest,  that  Frazer  had  time  to  bring  reinforcements 
from  the  fleet  and  turn  the  American  position. 


92  The  German  Allies 

The  Germans  now  formed  the  left  wing  of  the  army 
and  the  whole  force  advanced  to  Montreal,  which  the 
Americans  abandoned,  and  on  the  i5th  the  Twenty- 
ninth  (British)  regiment  took  possession  of  the  city 
and  island.  The  German  troops  marched  to  Ver- 
geres  (or  Verches),  where  Carleton  had  his  head- 
qnarters,  nntil  he  moved  to  Montreal,  and  Riedesel 
then  put  his  force  in  cantonments. 

On  June  26th,  Carleton  established  himself  at 
Chambly,  where  the  Americans,  on  their  retreat,  had 
burned  a  well-built  fort.  Fort  St.  John  had  also  been 
abandoned  by  the  Americans,  and  both  were  now 
rebuilt. 

The  English  plan  was  to  move  the  northern  army, 
under  Carleton,  to  Lake  Champlain,  drive  the  Amer 
icans  out  of  the  forts,  and  push  on  to  the  Hudson. 
A  southern  corps,  under  Lord  Howe,  should  move  up 
the  Hudson  from  New  York  and  join  the  other  at 
Albany.  Col.  St.  Leger  was  to  make  a  diversion,  by 
going  to  the  right  from  Oswego  to  the  Mohawk  val 
ley  and  so  to  Albany,  to  rejoin  the  main  body.  He 
was  to  engage  Schuyler's  force  of  Americans,  take 
Fort  Stanwix,  and  destroy  the  other  forts  on  the  Mo 
hawk — thus,  if  successful,  cutting  off  the  northern 
from  the  southern  provinces,  and  ending  the  war. 

The  British  worked  hard  at  getting  ready  boats  for 
transportation  across  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  Amer 
icans,  under  Gen.  Gates  and  Gen.  Arnold,  increased 
their  fleet  and  strengthened  their  defenses,  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga.  News  from  Europe  and  the 


In  the   American   Revolution.  93 

southern  provinces  carne  slowly  to  Canada,  letters 
from  Germany  were  often  eight  or  ten  months  on  the 
way,  and  of  the  Second  Brunswick  division  nothing 
was  known. 

The  troops  under  Riedesel  suffered  greatly  from 
sickness,  due  to  the  trying  climate,  in  spite  of  his 
efforts  to  secure  them  fresh  vegetables  and  good  food. 
He  lost  a  few  by  desertion,  but  the  officers  amused 
themselves  and  exchanged  civilities.  Burgoyne  was 
a  guest  at  a  great  dinner  on  the  birthday  of  the  Duke 
of*  Brunswick. 

The  German  soldiers  were  trained  in  the  American 
method  of  target  practice  and  fighting  in  loose  order. 
Riedesel  was  slow  to  give  up  his  old  preference  for 
the  methods  he  had  seen  at  home,  but  finally  saw  the 
advantage  of  the  new  system. 

Col.  v.  Speth,  on  August  I2th,  took  a  detachment 
of  200  men  to  St.  Johns,  where  a  depot  of  supplies 
was  established.  On  August  3ist,  Captain  v.  Pausch 
came  with  the  Hesse  Hanau  artillery,  to  La  Prairie — 
six  light  guns,  four  officers  and  126  artillerymen.  In 
the  night,  between  the  4th  and  5th  of  September, 
Riedesel  received  word  that  5,000  Americans  in  400 
boats  had  landed  above  Isle  aux  Noix,  and  at  once 
returned  from  Montreal,  but  the  Americans  had  with 
drawn,  and  Col.  Breymann  was  sent,  with  his  Grena 
diers,  to  establish  a  camp  near  Fort  St.  John,  while  a 
camp  at  Savanna  was  fortified,  and  in  addition  to  the 
Hanau  artillery,  six  English  guns  were  served  by  the 
German  artillerists. 


94  The  German  Allies 

The  German  corps  under  Riedesel  consisted  of  the 
Grenadier  battalion  and  the  Riedesel  and  Hanan  reg 
iments,  1,300  strong. 

The  English  corps  consisted  of  over  6,000,  includ 
ing  i  ,000  Indians  and  Canadians,  while  Col.  St.  Leger 
was  to  form  a  separate  corps. 

The  Second  Brunswick  division  having  reached 
Quebec  on  the  lyth  of  September,  the  Dragoon  regi 
ment  was,  at  Riedesel's  request,  added  to  his  force, 
and  390  boats  were  assigned  to  him  to  transport  his 
command. 


The  Second  Brunswick  division,  under  Col.  v. 
Specht,  consisting  of  the  regiments  of  v.  Specht 
and  v.  Rhetz,  the  Light  battalion  of  v.  Barner  and  a 
Yager  company,  had  embarked  at  Stode  on  May  3oth. 

Specht,  in  his  journal,  says  that  the  men  came 
very  gladly.  With  the  division,  came  Quartermaster 
Bar  and  Chaplain  Kohli  —  the  latter  volunteering, 
and  giving  up  a  comfortable  position  in  the  church. 

At  Plymouth,  it  joined  the  Second  Hessian  divi 
sion  and  the  Waldeck  regiment.  The  transport  fleet 
consisted  of  19  sail,  convoyed  by  two  men-of-war,  the 
Amazon  and  the  Garland.  Sailing  on  May  26th,  it 
reached  Quebec  September  14th.  The  supply  of  pro 
visions  was  so  small  and  so  bad  that  19  men  died  and 
131  were  sick  of  scorbutic  diseases. 

Gen.  Carleton  pushed  forward  the  advance,  so  as  to 
escape  the  early  winter.  On  September  23d,  Briga- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  95 

dier  Fraser  received  orders  to  move,  with  the  force 
assigned  him,  from  Isle  aux  Noix  to  Riviere  la  Colle 
and  there  establish  a  post.  The  head  of  his  column, 
consisting  of  Indians,  Canadian  and  English  volun 
teers,  went  to  Point  au  Per. 

On  the  28th,  the  German  brigade  were  ordered  to 
Isle  aux  Noix,  and  103  boats  were  assigned  for  their 
transportation.  Gen.  Burgoyne  established  his  head 
quarters  there,  by  order  of  Gen.  Carleton. 

Riedesel  had  not  yet  gathered  together  all  his  Ger 
man  troops,  and  only  on  October  i3th  did  the  second 
division  reach  Fort  Chambly,  and  earlier  in  the  month 
the  Dragoon  regiment  got  to  Sorel.  Many  loyal  Can 
adians  joined  this  column,  most  of  them  in  their  ordi 
nary  costume  —  a  long,  white  oversuit,  a  long  shot 
gun,  a  powder-horn  and  a  knife  at  the  side,  and  a 
pocket-full  of  ammunition ;  their  little  baggage  in 
two-v/heeled  carts. 

Gen.  Burgoyne  led  the  First  English  brigade,  con 
sisting  of  the  Ninth,  Twenty-first,  Thirty-first  and 
Forty-seventh  regiments,  with  the  German  brigade 
as  its  left  wing,  the  Grenadier  battalion  and  the  regi 
ments  of  v.  Riedesel  and  Hesse  Hanau. 

On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  October,  Gen.  Carleton 
sailed  with  his  little  fleet  to  Point  au  Fer.  His  neph 
ew,  Captain  Carleton,  moved  up  the  left  bank  with 
his  Indians,  and  Captain  Fraser  led  another  corps  of 
Indians  and  Canadian  volunteers. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel  received  orders  to  remain  at  Isle 
aux  Noix  until  the  arrival  of  the  Second  English 


96  The  German  Allies 

brigade  under  Powell.     New  works  and  magazines 
were  erected,  and  supplies  brought  from  St.  John. 

Gen.  Carleton  burned  with  impatience  to  meet  the 
enemy  on  the  water,  and  on  October  loth  received 
news  that  the  Americans  were  at  Great  Island,  and 
at  once  started  to  capture  them.  The  dark  and  foggy 
night  favored  their  escape,  but  of  16  vessels  with  100 
guns  only  five  small  boats  reached  Crown  Point- 
some  were  taken,  others  beached  and  burned ;  the 
men  escaping  to  the  woods.  Gen.  Arnold  was  in 
command  and  showed  great  courage,  but  v.  Riedesel, 
in  his  journal,  reports  that  he  set  fire  to  his  boats  in 
such  haste  that  he  did  not  remove  the  wounded,  and 
they  were  burned  to  death — their  cries  being  heard 
above  the  crackling  of  the  flames  and  the  noise  of  the 
guns. 

On  the  1 2th,  a  boat  reached  Isle  aux  Noix  with 
eight  wounded  men,  a  British  naval  lieutenant  and  a 
drummer  of  the  Hanau  artillery,  which  had  taken 
part  in  the  fight.  Lieut.  Foy,  of  that  force,  had 
saved  a  twelve-pound  battery  and  put  it  on  Captain 
Pausch's  boat,  with  a  loss  of  two  killed,  two  drowned 
and  a  number  wounded. 

On  that  day,  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  received  orders  to 
move,  with  his  five  regiments,  to  Riviere  la  Colle, 
relieving  the  English  brigade,  taking  ten  days'  pro 
visions,  and  sending  a  Brunswick  Yager  company  by 
land  on  the  west  side. 

On  the  1 5th,  Burgoyne  ordered  the  Brunswick 
force  to  Point  an  Per,  leaving  a  staff  officer  and  300 


In  the  American  Revolution.  97 

men  at  Riviere  la  Colle  to  forward  provisions,  while 
Burgoyne  advanced  with  his  first  division. 

On  Carleton's  advance,  the  Americans  had  retreated 
from  Crown  Point,  after  setting  fire  to  the  works, 
and  they  were  still  smoking  when  the  allied  troops 
entered,  on  the  i4th.  Carleton  established  his  head 
quarters  there,  and  on  the  2oth  Gen.  Burgoyne  came 
on  the  "  Washington,"  one  of  the  vessels  captured 
from  the  Americans,  with  orders  to  go  into  winter 
quarters. 

The  Germans  were  posted  from  Trois  Rivieres  to 
Chambly,  on  the  west  bank  of  Lake  St.  Peter,  between 
the  St.  Lawrence  and  Richelieu  rivers.  The  Hanau 
artillery  was  ordered  to  Montreal,  and  the  other  forces 
distributed  in  different  villages.  The  ground  covered 
by  them  was  necessarily  very  extended — the  Bruns 
wick  troops  over  thirty-three  German  miles.  German 
head-quarters  were  established  at  Trois  Rivieres,  the 
smallest  of  the  three  Canadian  cities,  with  250  houses, 
1,200  inhabitants,  an  Augustinian  convent  and  an 
English  barracks  for  500  men. 

On  October  22d,  Carleton  moved  his  troops  to  the 
assigned  posts  for  the  winter,  abandoning  the  fort  at 
Crown  Point,  for  want  of  material  to  provide  quarters 
for  the  garrison.  The  Americans  had  established  a 
permanent  camp"  at  Ticonderoga  —  their  force  had 
diminished  from  10,000  to  7,000,  so  weak  that  Briga 
dier  Fraser,  with  a  small  force,  drove  150  oxen  from 
under  the  entrenchments  without  a  shot.  The  troops 
were  quartered  in  the  houses  of  the  inhabitants,  with 
13 


98  The  German  Allies 

as  milch  regard  as  possible  to  their  comfort  and  that 
of  the  owners.  All  seigneurs,  cures,  captains  of  mili 
tia,  and  post  houses,  were  exempt.  The  soldiers 
received  every  thing  free,  and  had  no  right  to  ask  for 
any  thing  more  without  paying  for  it.  The  men  were 
obliged  to  cut  wood  in  the  forest,  but  the  landlord  had 
to  bring  it  to  the  house.  Each  man  received  daily 
one-half  pound  of  meat,  half  fresh,  half  salt,  bread 
and  necessary  vegetables  for  soup,  etc.  The  troops 
were  kept  in  strict  discipline,  and  on  leaving  the  offi 
cers  were  obliged  to  give  a  strict  account  of  their 
conduct. 

On  December  yth,  orders  were  issued  from  head 
quarters  at  Montreal,  assigning  points  where  the 
troops  could  rally,  and  giving  them  orders  to  be 
constantly  ready  to  move.  The  loss  during  the  win 
ter  was  a  small  one,  three  officers  and  83  men  cover 
ing  that  of  the  Brunswick  division  up  to  the  middle 
of  November.  The  winter  opened  mildly,  and  was 
long  spoken  of  as  the  German  winter ;  not  a  shot 
was  fired  and  the  men  fished  and  hunted  for  amuse 
ment.  At  the  end  of  February  and  beginning  of 
March  the  German  force  was  inspected  by  Captain 
Foy,  and  Gen.  Carleton  expressed  his  satisfaction 
with  their  good  condition  and  exemplary  conduct. 
By  the  end  of  December,  eight  feet  of  snow  lay  on 
the  ground,  and  warm  clothing  had  to  be  supplied  to 
protect  the  men,  who  showed  great  endurance. 


1777- 
CHAPTER    V. 


With  the  new  year,  Great  Britain  looked  for  more 
help  to  break  the  revolt  of  its  colonies.  A  New  York 
newspaper  reported  that  more  troops  were  to  be  got, 
and  that  the  following  negotiations  had  been  com 
pleted,  with 

Wnrtemberg  for 3,ooo  men, 

Hesse  Cassel 2,500 

Mecklenburg 3,ooo     " 

Ansbach  Bayreuth 1,000     " 

Sachse-Gotha 2,ooo     " 

while  Russia  had  refused  very  tempting  offers.  Of 
the  German  courts  only  Hesse  Cassel,  Hesse  Hanau 
and  Ansbach  Bayreuth  would  come  to  terms,  and  the 
following  were  fixed  on,  viz. : 

Hesse  Cassel *  3*467  men, 

Hesse  Hanau 1,080     " 

Brunswick 4,300     " 

Ansbach  Bayreuth 1,285     " 

Waldeck 670     " 


A  total  of 20,802 


ioo  The   German   Allies 

Hesse  Cassel  and  Hanau  were  to  lend  their  Yagers 
as  light  troops. 

Parliament  voted  for  this  year  further  subsidies  of 
five  million  pounds,  of  which 

Hesse  Cassel  was  to  get ^33^,932 

Brunswick 149,720 

Hesse  Hanau 18,181 

Ansbach  Bayreuth 39>588 

Waldeck I7>37° 

The  Artillery 26,053 

For  Provisions,  etc 4T>427 

Hesse  Cassel  was  also  to  receive  ^6,617  for  extra 
subsidies,  and  Hesse  Hanau  ^1,013 —  and  the  artil 
lery  was  also  to  get  an  additional  payment  for  the 
past  year.  For  the  Yagers  sent  the  year  before, 

Hesse  Cassel  got ^36,728 

And  for  the  Artillery 1 3,973 

Hesse  Hanau,  for  its  Artillery 3)3^3 

And  for  an  additional  Yager  regiment .    .    .       16,326 

Lord  Howe  offered  to  every  American  volunteer 
ing  for  two  years  in  the  British  army,  as  an  officer, 
200  acres,  as  an  enlisted  man,  50. 

The  recruiting  for  the  Hessian  Yager  corps  went 
on  well  during  the  winter  of  1776-7.  Only  experts 
were  taken,  and  they  were  to  be  well  paid  and  cared 
for.  After  giving  each  man  a  Louis  d'or,  as  the 
volunteers  grew  less,  the  premium  grew  higher  —  for 
foreigners,  four  Louis  d'or ;  for  natives  three,  and  for 
each  recruit,  one.  A  recruiting  office  was  opened  in 
Waldau,  near  Cassel,  under  Captain  Romstadt.  The 


In  the  American  Revolution.  101 

men  were  not  forced ;  all  enlistments  were  voluntary. 
The  Yagers  received  better  pay,  were  free  from  work 
on  the  forts,  etc.,  and  were  well  armed  and  well 
clothed. 

Hesse  Hanau  sent  a  Yager  corps,  500  strong,  in 
four  companies,  under  Col.  v.  Kreutzberg;  Hesse 
Cassel  two  new  Yager  companies,  under  Major  v. 
Priischenk. 

Once  embarked  —  after  nine  of  the  Hessians  had 
been  formally  betrothed  —  storms  scattered  the  fleet, 
and  one  vessel  was  taken,  with  its  60  Hessian  Yagers, 
by  an  American  cruiser,  and  brought  to  Boston ; 
some  were  exchanged  at  the  close  of  1778,  others  not 
until  the  end  of  1780. 

The  Markgraf  Alexander,  of  Ansbach  Bayreuth, 
made  a  treaty  with  the  British  government,  providing 
for  a  subsidy  for  six  years,  in  return  for  two  regi 
ments,  1,100  strong,  one  from  Bayreuth,  the  other 
from  Ansbach,  with  light  infantry  and  artillery  in 
due  proportion. 

This  was  the  prince  who,  in  1791,  ceded  his  little 
territory  to  Prussia,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
England,  where  he  married  Lady  Craven,  dying  there 
in  1806.  He  was  a  kindly  man,  who  did  his  best  to 
relieve  his  land  from  the  heavy  burthen  of  debts 
imposed  on  it  by  his  predecessors. 

The  Bayreuth  regiment,  600  strong,  under  Col.  v. 
Voigt,  consisted  of  five  companies,  including  one  of 
light  infantry,  one  of  Grenadiers,  and  one  of  artillery 
—  in  its  ranks  was  Dohla,  whose  diary  is  full  of  inter- 


iO2  The  German  Allies 

esting  details.  The  prince  reviewed  the  regiment  at 
his  capital,  Ansbach,  where  it  was  joined  by  the 
Ansbach  regiment,  Col.  v.  Eyb,  who  commanded  the 
brigade.  Characteristic  is  the  fact  that  all  went 
well  on  the  march,  until  the  men  were  put  on  boats 
on  the  river  Main,  and  then  finding  themselves 
uncomfortably  crowded,  and  believing  that  they  were 
to  make  the  whole  journey  to  America  in  the  same 
close  quarters,  they  broke  out  into  open  disorder  and 
left  the  boats,  declaring  that  they  had  sworn  to  serve 
on  land,  but  not  on  water.  The  people  around  gave 
them  wine,  and  the  soldiers  wandered  away  in  all 
directions.  The  light  infantry  stuck  to  their  colors, 
and  tried  in  vain  to  force  the  fugitives  back  into  the 
ranks.  There  was  sharp  firing  and  noisy  disorder 
for  several  hours,  until  the  Grenadier  company,  under 
Capt.  v.  Eckert,  charged  on  the  scattered  men  and 
finally  brought  them  back,  with  a  loss  of  40  men  in 
the  Bayreuth  regiment. 

The  prince  himself  hurried  to  meet  the  soldiers, 
reassured  them  and  accompanied  them  part  of  their 
further  journey.  The  charges  of  cruelty  made 
against  him  by  recent  sensational  writers,  are  met 
by  the  fact  that  Dohla,  one  of  the  soldiers,  in  his 
Diary,  published  in  1811,  dedicated  to  one  of  his 
comrades,  Helper,  mentions  nothing  of  the  kind. 

The  prince  made  handsome  gifts  to  the  men  to 
procure  comforts  for  their  voyage,  and  supplied  them 
with  tobacco  and  food  and  liquor,  in  addition  to  the 
regular  supply  from  the  British  commissariat.  One 


In  the   American   Revolution.  103 

pound  of  meat,  two  pounds  of  bread,  vegetables,  rice, 
meal  and  wine,  with  beer  and  brandy  at  cost,  were 
good  rations,  and  a  special  transport,  laden  with  food, 
accompanied  the  fleet,  and  at  Portsmouth  fresh  stores 
were  laid  in  before  starting  to  cross  the  ocean. 

The  German  light  troops  soon  rivalled  the  Ameri 
can  riflemen  in  their  sharpness  in  learning  to  make 
use  of  the  advantages  of  the  ground  and  to  avail 
themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  gain  a  knowledge 
of  the  movements  and  strength  and  plans  of  the 
enemy. 

Desertion  among  the  Americans  was  greatly  on 
the  increase,  and  a  Hessian  officer  wrote  that  almost 
daily  bands  of  thirty  to  forty  —  in  one  day,  indeed, 
266  —  came  into  the  British  lines,  some  of  them 
bringing  their  officers  along  by  force. 

Brunswick  and  Amboy  were  held  by  the  British, 
but  the  Americans  threatened  them  on  all  sides  — 
Cornwallis  was  too  weak  to  take  the  offensive,  and 
Howe  remained  quiet  for  six  months,  while  an  infe 
rior  enemy,  only  twenty-five  miles  from  his  head 
quarters,  constantly  disturbed  his  outposts. 

At  the  outset,  a  large  part  of  the  population  of 
New  Jersey  was  loyal,  but  the  British  generals 
changed  this  by  their  harsh  methods  — punishing 
alike  men  of  all  opinions,  in  their  effort  to  destroy 
all  supplies  that  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Americans. 

At  first,  the  Germans  were  charged  with  cruelty, 
but  it  was  found  that  they  were  strictly  acting  under 


IO4  The  German  Allies 

orders,  and  in  the  attack  on  Trenton,  an  order  was 
found  from  Gen.  Howe  to  Col.  v.  Donop,  directing 
the  destruction  of  all  supplies  that  might  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Donop  and  Kwald  were  good  disciplinarians,  and 
their  troops  were  not  nearly  so  much  given  to  excesses 
as  the  American  militia. 

Tired,  at  last,  of  a  wearisome  and  trying  defensive, 
Cornwallis  decided  to  act  on  the  offensive,  and  on 
April  1 2th  attacked  the  enemy  at  Bound  Brook. 
Captain  Ewald,  at  the  head  of  a  small  detachment, 
drove  the  force  in  front  of  him  into  a  field  fort,  which 
was  finally  taken  by  a  larger  body  from  the  rear. 
At  another  time,  near  Raritan  Landing,  he  captured 
a  force  much  larger  than  his  own,  by  a  clever  coup  de 
main.  His  example  so  influenced  his  men,  and  all 
under  his  orders,  that  there  were  numerous  instances 
of  great  personal  gallantry  and  brilliant  feats  of  arms, 
which  won  the  applause  alike  of  friend  and  foe. 

While  Howe  and  the  other  high  British  officers 
had  enjoyed  their  winter  at  ease  in  New  York,  the 
troops  on  the  border  had  been  sorely  tried.  The 
Waldeck  regiment,  with  a  detachment  of  dragoons, 
occupied  Elizabeth  during  the  hard  winter  and  suf 
fered  greatly.  On  January  5th,  a  detachment  of  55 
men,  under  Capt.  Haak  and  Lieut.  Heldring,  was 
taken,  and  soon  after  another  of  30  men  was  cap 
tured.  Withdrawn  in  January  to  Amboy,  the  post 
was  almost  nightly  alarmed,  and  it  was  not  taken  to 
Staaten  Island  until  the  end  of  June. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  105 

Howe  waited  for  reinforcements  and  for  orders  from 
London,  which  ordered  him  to  capture  Philadelphia 
and  make  the  southern  provinces  the  seat  of  war. 
He  asked  for  15,000  men  and  ten  men-of-war  to  carry 
out  the  plans,  was  promised  the  half,  but  got  3,000. 

On  June  3d,  the  reinforcements  reached  New  York, 
among  them  some  hundred  Hessian  light  infantry  - 
a  much-needed  addition — and  some  German  artillery 
men.  The  whole  British  force  was  rated  at  24,700 — 
enough,  said  Miinchhausen,  to  drive  off  the  rebels, 
but  not  to  go  right  on  into  the  heart  of  the  country. 

Howe's  plans  —  or  want  of  them  —  were  sharply 
criticised  by  the  Germans  serving  under  his  com 
mand.  The  capture  of  Philadelphia  was  his  first 
business.  From  the  8th  to  the  nth  of  June,  he 
drew  together  at  Amboy  his  forces  —  British,  Hes 
sian,  Ansbach  Bayreuth  and  Waldeck  troops,  includ 
ing  the  Guard  and  Prince  Carl  regiments,  from  New 
port  ;  later  on,  the  Germans  were  placed  in  an 
entrenched  camp  on  Staaten  Island.  His  force  now 
joined  that  of  Cornwallis  at  Brunswick,  leaving  the 
Ansbach  Bayreuth,  Waldeck  and  Fifty-fifth  British 
regiments,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Campbell,  at  Amboy. 

On  the  1 4th,  the  army  moved  from  Brunswick  in 
two  columns,  one  under  Cornwallis,  with  Col.  v.  Do- 
nop  leading,  the  other  under  Heister.  The  former 
drove  the  enemy  before  him,  under  Gen.  Stirling, 
but  the  Americans  held  their  main  line  and  Howe 
did  not  venture  to  attack.  He  retreated  to  Amboy 
on  the  22d,  and  Washington  sent  a  large  part  of  his 


io6  The  German  Allies 

force  in  pursuit,  which  attacked  Cornwallis,  who, 
with  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  troops,  resisted  and 
then  drove  the  enemy ;  the  Ansbach  light  troops, 
under  Capt.  v.  Grammont,  showing  great  courage 
and  skill. 

Howe  had  thrown  a  pontoon  bridge  across  to 
Staaten  Island,  when  he  learned  the  welcome  news 
of  the  American  advance.  He  prepared  at  once  to 
move  against  them,  sending  Cornwallis  with  the 
right  wing,  Donop  in  the  advance,  Howe  with  Heis- 
ter,  with  the  left,  to  unite  and  attack  the  left  of  the 
Americans,  and  seize  the  heights  which  they  had 
abandoned. 

Howe  detached  four  battalions,  with  six  guns, 
under  Cornwallis,  who  struck  the  American  force. 
Vaughan's  brigade  next  joined  in  the  attack.  It 
included  the  Hessian  battalion,  made  up  of  the 
remains  of  Rail's  brigade,  after  its  defeat  at  Tren 
ton,  and  was  under  Lieut.-Col.  Kochenhausen  —  and 
later  under  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Schick  and  Col.  v.  Loos  — 
and  was  attached  first  to  Donop's  and  then  to  Stirn's 
brigade. 

The  Americans,  after  a  long  fight,  were  driven  in 
disorder  back  to  the  hills,  with  heavy  loss  —  Minni- 
gerode's  battalion  alone  capturing  two  new  guns  and 
eighty  prisoners,  and  its  commander  received  a  deco 
ration  from  his  prince,  who,  on  receipt  of  Knyphau- 
sen's  roiport,  in  September,  sent  him  the  reward, 
which  was  received  in  New  York  in  the  spring  of 


In  the  American  Revolution.  107 

Capt.  v.  Dinklage,  in  his  diary,  says  the  German 
loss  was  a  small  one.  The  want  of  gunners  was 
made  good  later  by  the  arrival  of  164  artillerymen. 

Washington  at  once  withdrew  to  his  former  strong 
position,  but  the  British  had  one  substantial  gain  in 
the  capture  of  a  large  amount  of  fresh  provisions. 

Howe  made  a  very  favorable  report  to  Lord  Ger 
main  of  the  conduct  of  the  German  forces  engaged 
in  this  operation.  He  withdrew  to  Amboy  and  gave 
up  his  plan  for  crossing  the  Delaware,  to  avoid  hav 
ing  the  American  army  in  his  rear.  They  pressed 
him  sharply  near  Amboy,  and  a  strong  force  was 
sent  out  on  a  reconnoisance  towards  Elizabeth  — 
including  300  Hessian  (Yager)  light  cavalry,  which 
had  just  arrived,  but,  like  the  Brunswick  dragoons, 
without  horses,  which  were  to  be  supplied  in  Amer 
ica  ;  but  as  this  could  not  be  done,  they  served  as 
infantry. 

In  New  York,  Gen.  v.  Knyphausen  commanded, 
succeeding  Heister,  who  went  back  to  Cassel,  nom 
inally  on  account  of  his  age  and  infirmities,  but 
really  because  he  could  not  get  on  with  Howe.  With 
Heister  went  Col.  v.  Block  and  Col.  v.  Horn,  Lt.-Col. 
v.  Schreyvogel,  and  some  invalid  officers  and  soldiers. 
He  was  treated  with  due  honor,  sailing  on  a  British 
transport  of  10  guns,  escorted  by  a  man-of-war.  He 
reached  Cassel  in  October  and  died  there  on  Novem 
ber  i Qth.  Born  in  Homburg,  Hesse,  in  1716,  the  son 
of  a  Hessian  captain,  he  served  in  his  native  army 
and  later  in  that  of  France,  then  returned  to  that  of 


io8  The  German  Allies 

Hesse,  fought  in  the  Seven  Years '  War,  was  aid  to 
the  crown  prince  of  Brunswick,  and  was  respected 
alike  as  a  man  and  a  soldier. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Howe  gave  up  his  plan  to  march  through  New 
Jersey  to  Philadelphia,  and  secretly  arranged  new 
plans  with  his  brother,  the  admiral — leaving  Clinton 
in  New  York,  with  600  men.  He  had  18  regiments 
of  infantry,  and  of  his  16,000  men,  over  4,400  were 
Germans.  A  part  of  the  Hessian  light  troops  were 
mounted,  bait  the  officers  could  hardly  get  the  nec 
essary  horses. 

On  July  23d,  the  fleet  of  264  sail  started  on  an 
eastwardly  course,  in  six  divisions ;  the  fifth  and 
sixth  carried  the  Hessians.  Taking  a  southerly 
course,  it  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware  on  the 
3Oth,  but  going  seaward  again  after  a  severe  storm, 
on  August  1 5th  it  anchored  off  Cape  Charles,  in 
Chesapeake  Bay,  and  after  a  violent  storm,  reached 
the  head  of  Elk,  where  the  forces  were  at  length 
disembarked. 

The  army  numbered  17,000  men,  divided  into  two 
corps ;  one  he  led,  the  other,  Knyphausen.  Howe 
had  three  Hessian  Grenadier  battalions,  and  the 
Hessian  and  Ansbach  Yagers ;  in  all,  9,000  men. 
Knyphausen  had  Stirn's  brigade,  and,  with  the  Brit 
ish  troops,  8,000  men.  A  capture  of  some  tobacco- 


no  The   German   Allies 

laden  vessels  gave  the  men  a  welcome  addition  to 
their  scanty  supplies. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2  8th,  a  small  knot  of  Amer 
ican  officers  were  seen  reconnoitering,  and  Washing 
ton  was  recognized  at  their  head.  Howe  started  with 
3,000  men  in  pursuit,  and  captured  two  officers,  who 
belonged  to  the  volunteer  corps  of  the  Marquis  d'Ar- 
mand ;  one,  v.  Uchtritz,  was  a  former  officer  in  the 
Saxon  army,  who  had  resigned,  to  find  his  fortune 
in  America. 

On  September  ist,  Knyphausen  advanced,  reach 
ing  Iron  Hill  on  the  3d,  and  the  advance,  under  Corn- 
wallis,  with  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  light  infantry, 
met  the  enemy,  six  hundred  strong,  under  General 
Maxwell. 

There  was  a  sharp  struggle,  in  which  Capt.  Wre- 
den  and  Lieut-Col.  Wurmb  led  their  men  bravely, 
finally  driving  the  enemy,  with  a  heavy  loss. 

Howe  praised  Wurmb  and  his  officers,  and  men 
tioned  them  in  a  general  order,  and  gave  the  men 
a  handsome  money  reward  for  their  gallantry  at 
Crutchley's  Mill. 

On  the  3d,  the  two  columns  united  at  Newark,  and 
on  the  9th  again  moved  separately  —  Knyphausen 
going  to  the  left,  to  the  Brandywine,  where  Washing 
ton  held  a  strong  position,  his  left  at  Chadd's  Ford, 
his  right  at  Dilworth.  The  passage  of  the  stream 
was  covered  by  two  batteries  of  light  guns,  and  part 
of  Maxwell's  corps  was  posted  in  support.  General 
Armstrong  was  two  miles  below,  to  defend  another 


In  the  American  Revolution.  in 

ford.     The  American  force,  besides  the  militia,  was 
17,000  strong. 

The  serious  nature  of  the  struggle  was  fully  rec 
ognized —  the  British  risked  being  cut  off  from  the 
fleet  and  their  supplies ;  the  Americans  the  loss  of 
Philadelphia.  Knyphausen  was  ordered  to  march, 
with  his  division,  to  Chadd's  Ford,  and  to  attack,  but 
not  in  force,  the  enemy's  left,  while  Howe  and  Corn- 
wallis  turned  his  right ;  this  done,  Knyphausen  was 
to  make  a  vigorous  forward  movement,  simultane 
ously  with  the  main  body.  He  marched  early  on  the 
nth,  and  at  ten  A.  M.  met  a  body  of  600  riflemen; 
these  he  drove  back,  but  they  were  reinforced  and  a 
warm  engagement  ensued.  Knyphausen  then  moved 
up  the  rest  of  his  column  on  the  right  and  left,  the 
Hessians  holding  the  center.  The  advance  consisted 
of  the  English  Light  Infantry  and  a  hundred  men  of 
the  German  Guards,  under  Captain  Le  Long,  and, 
followed  by  the  main  body,  they  moved  steadily  for 
ward  and  attacked  the  Americans  with  the  bayonet, 
and  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  finally,  about  u  A. 
M.,  drove  the  Americans  across  the  Brandy  wine. 

After  keeping  up  the  appearance  of  action  with 
growing  impatience,  Knyphausen  finally  heard  the 
signal  that  Howe  had  completed  his  movement,  and 
at  once  moved  forward,  driving  Maxwell  and  Wayne, 
with  the  loss  of  five  guns,  until  they  retreated  to 
Chester.  Part  of  Knyphausen's  force  moved  to  the 
left  and  struck  a  part  of  the  enemy's  right,  which 
had  been  broken  by  Howe. 


ii2  The  German  Allies 

Cornwallis  had  gone  to  the  left,  on  the  Lancaster 
road,  crossed  both  branches  of  the  Brandywine,  and 
formed  three  columns  for  attack  —  in  the  first  the 
Guards,  the  British  Grenadiers,  the  Light  Infantry, 
and  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  troops ;  in  the  second, 
the  Hessian  Grenadiers  and  the  Fourth  brigade ;  the 
third  was  to  act  as  reserve.  The  advance  was  formed 
of  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  Yagers  and  a  force 
under  Ewald. 

The  movement  was  easily  made  across  the  Brandy- 
wine — although  Ewald  says  that  a  hundred  muskets 
and  two  field  pieces  could  have  held  them  all  day,  or 
forced  them  to  find  another  ford  higher  up — and  mov 
ing  around  the  enemy's  right  flank,  came  in  on  the 
rear  of  the  Americans.  After  four  o'clock  the  attack 
was  made  and  successfully,  and  Howe  followed  it  up 
with,  repeated  bayonet  charges.  The  English  Gren 
adier  battalion  and  the  German  Grenadiers  lost  their 
track  in  the  thick  woods  and  did  not  take  part  again 
in  the  action. 

Night  was  beginning,  and  as  Howe  had  no  news 
from  Knyphausen,  he  decided  not  to  continue  the 
pursuit.  Ewald,  to  his  great  regret,  was  obliged  to 
see  a  force  of  the  enemy  quietly  fall  back  in  safety, 
when,  with  a  regiment  and  a  gun,  he  could  have  cut 
it  off. 

While  Howe's  two  forces  had  succeeded,  it  was 
without  any  concert  of  action  or  knowledge  on  either 
side  of  what  the  other  had  done. 

Washington  reported  his  defeat  to  Congress,  while 


In  the   American    Revolution.  113 

one  wing  of  his  army  retreated  to  Chester  and  the 
other  to  Philadelphia. 

The  Hessian  Yagers  and  Grenadiers,  and  the  Ans- 
bach  Yagers,  and  the  Hessian  Light  Cavalry,  just 
mounted,  won  great  praise  for  their  gallantry.  The 
Hessians  lost  Capt.  Trautvetter,  Lieuts.  Dupuy,  v. 
Triimbach,  v.  Lissingen,  and  v.  Baumbach ;  and  the 
Ansbach  Light  Infantry  lost  Lieut,  v.  Forstner,  and 
many  men  killed  and  wounded.  Of  the  eleven  guns 
taken,  there  were  three  Hessian  guns  that  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  at  Trenton. 

Captains  Ewald  and  Wreden  were  decorated,  and 
Bickel  was  promoted  to  be  a  commissioned  officer,  for 
their  distinguished  actions. 

Howe  did  not  know  how  to  use  his  victory,  and 
neglected  to  turn  it  to  advantage  by  prompt  pursuit. 

Lotheisen,  a  regimental  quartermaster,  says  in  his 
diary,  that  in  Philadplphia  he  was  told  that  the  Amer 
icans  fled  in  such  disorder  that  an  energetic  pursuit 
would  have  captured  enough  to  have  put  an  end  to 
the  war. 

The  British  were  so  careless  in  their  advance  that 
it  was  only  owing  to  Ewald's  activity  that  the  Amer 
ican  rear-guard  failed  to  drive  off  in  disorder  the 
advance  of  the  pursuing  column. 

The  German  military  criticism  was  well  expressed 
by  Gen.  Ochs,  a  Hessian  who,  as  a  subaltern,  had 
taken  part  in  the  battle  :  "  Washington  was  right  to 
fight  for  his  capital,  and  that  not  under  its  windows, 
but  at  a  good  distance ;  but  he  was  wrong  in  trying 

'5 


ii4  The  German  Allies 

to  put  his  raw  troops  forward  to  fight  experienced 
soldiers  on  a  footing  of  equality." 

Howe  remained  idle  for  two  days,  his  patrols  gath 
ering  prisoners,  and  on  the  i3th  moved  to  Wilming 
ton  and  later  to  Chester,  where  the  troops  lay  until 
October  2ist. 

Finally,  on  the  iSth,  Knyphausen  moved  towards 
Philadelphia,  and  after  joining  Cornwallis,  the  col 
umn  crossed  the  Schuylkill  and  drove  off  Wayne's 
force.  Col.  v.  Donop  was  ordered  to  cross  French 
creek,  and  sent  Capt.  v.  Westenhagen,  who  drove  the 
enemy  so  gallantly  as  to  earn  Howe's  special  praise. 

On  September  25th,  the  enemy  moved  in  two  col 
umns  to  Germantown,  and  Cornwallis,  with  six  Brit 
ish  and  two  Hessian  Grenadier  battalions,  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  at  once  threw  up  batteries  on  the 
land  and  water  front. 

The  British  army  was  weakened  by  detachments 
sent  in  various  directions,  and  Washington,  who  was 
in  camp  on  Skippack  creek,  sixteen  miles  from  Ger 
mantown,  decided  to  make  an  attack. 

The  British  line  had  its  left  on  the  Schuylkill,  its 
center  and  head-quarters  in  Germantown.  Knyp 
hausen  commanded  the  left,  with  Stirn,  Gray  and 
Agnew.  Col.  v.  Wurmb  covered  the  front  of  the  left 
wing  with  his  Yagers,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wissahi- 
kon.  Gen.  Grant  commanded  the  right  wing,  with 
its  advance  thrown  well  forward. 

At  3  A.  M.  on  the  4th  of  October,  the  British  out 
posts  on  the  right  wing  were  sharply  attacked  and 


In  the  American  Revolution.  115 

finally  driven  back  into  the  village,  where  they  took 
refuge  in  a  stone  honse  [Chew's],  which  they  bravely 
defended,  refusing  all  demands  to  surrender,  and  giv 
ing  Gen.  Grant  time  to  bring  up  his  main  body, 
while  the  Americans  became  confused  and  disordered. 

Howe  himself  was  promptly  on  hand,  hurried  up 
the  Grenadiers  of  Minnigerode  and  Donop's  regi 
ment,  placing  a  force  on  the  left  flank,  which  was 
also  threatened. 

Cornwallis  brought  reinforcements  from  Philadel 
phia  and  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
Americans. 

While  Howe  speaks  slightingly  of  this  engage 
ment,  the  Hessian  officers,  in  their  diaries,  describe 
it  at  considerable  length.  Lotheisen  says  :  "  Miinch- 
hausen,  of  the  Guards,  was  adjutant-general  for 
Howe,  and  gave  the  order  to  the  Guards  and  Do- 
nop's  regiment,  which  were  under  arms,  to  march  to 
German  town,  where  heavy  firing  was  heard.  He 
acted  on  his  own  responsibility  in  doing  so  —  and 
wisely,  for  on  their  arrival  the  Americans  fled,  were 
pursued  for  three  or  four  miles,  the  two  guns  taken 
in  Germantown  were  re-captured ;  "  and  Dinklage, 
in  his  diary,  speaks  of  the  good  fortune  of  his  regi 
ment,  the  Guards,  losing  next  to  nothing,  but  help 
ing  to  secure  the  substantial  result. 

In  the  "  History  of  the  Hessian  Light  Battalion," 
it  is  claimed  that  the  promptness  of  the  Hessians 
saved  the  army  and  turned  a  defeat  into  a  substan 
tial  victory. 


n6  The  German  Allies 

The  English — both  generals  and  historians  —  fail 
to  do  justice  to  the  German  troops. 

Col.  v.  Wunnb,  nnlike  the  British  officers,  kept 
strong  patrols  ont  on  his  front  and  repelled  an  attack 
of  the  Americans. 

Howe  almost  lost  his  head  —  he  had,  it  was  said, 
ordered  a  retreat  to  Chester,  and  it  was  rather  a  sur- 
prise  than  a  battle,  which  was  only  saved  from  becom 
ing  a  serious  disaster  by  the  prompt  gallantly  of  the 
German  troops.  Howe's  carelessness  was  the  cause 
— he  neglected  to  pay  any  attention  to  Ewald's  warn 
ing,  through  Col.  v.  Wurnib,  of  a  report  of  an  attack 
by  the  Americans,  and  refused  to  credit  a  like  story 
told  by  a  captured  American. 

Howe  had  made  a  bad  choice  for  his  camp,  refused 
to  pay  attention  to  the  Hessian  warning,  and  had  no 
connection  with  his  fleet,  as  the  American  fleet  still 
held  the  Delaware. 

Washington  had  attacked  in  four  columns  ;  two 
he  directed  on  German  town,  the  third  between  Ger- 
inantown  and  Philadelphia,  to  cut  off  Cornwallis 
from  reinforcements  ;  the  fourth  was  to  take  him  in 
the  rear.  The  heavy  fog  interfered  and  prevented 
the  successful  execution  of  the  plan.  Detachments 
were  sent  to  New  Jersey,  to  establish  batteries  and 
attack  Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud  Island. 

On  October  2ist,  Col.  v.  Donop  went  on  his  unlucky 
expedition  to  Red  Bank.  The  object  was  to  get  con 
trol  of  the  Delaware  and  open  it  for  the  British  fleet, 
so  as  to  secure  free  communication  with  the  army. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  117 

Reedy  Island  was  on  the  Jersey  shore,  and  Fort 
Mercer  stood  on  it.  Col.  Christopher  Green,  a  very 
capable  officer,  had  been  sent  there  by  Washington, 
with  a  force  of  Continental  troops. 

Opposite,  on  the  Pennsylvania  side,  was  Fort  Mif- 
fiin,  on  Mnd  Island,  separated  from  the  main  land 
by  a  narrow7  channel,  and  strengthened  by  war  ves 
sels,  floating  batteries,  etc.  Some  works  were  thrown 
up  against  it  and  manned  by  Hessians. 

The  Americans  made  several  attacks,  but  were 
always  repulsed  by  Capt.  v.  Stamford,  with  the  Gren 
adier  battalion  of  v.  Linsingen. 

The  English  commander  determined  to  seize  Red 
Bank,  and  gave  the  order  to  Donop,  an  intelligent 
and  bold  soldier,  and  his  force  included  the  three 
Grenadier  battalions  of  v.  Linsingen,  v.  Minnigerode 
and  v.  Lengerke,  Mirbach's  regiment,  which  had  been 
ordered  up  from  Wilmington,  four  light  companies, 
including  Wangenheim's,  a  dozen  cavalrymen,  some 
artillery  and  two  English  howitzers. 

Donop  recognized  the  heavy  task  entrusted  to  him 
and  asked  in  vain  for  more  artillery,  but  Howe  said 
that  if  Donop  could  not  take  the  fort,  the  British 
would.  Donop  was  angry  at  this  reply  and  sent  back 
word  that  the  Germans  had  courage  to  do  any  thing, 
and  to  his  associates  he  said :  "  Either  that  will  be 
Fort  Donop  or  I  shall  be  dead." 

On  October  2ist  he  left  Philadelphia  for  the  last 
time,  made  a  round-about  journey,  riding  with  some 
artillery  officers  to  reconnoiter.  He  found  that  he 


n8  The  German  Allies 

could  approach  the  fort  through  a  thick  wood  on 
three  sides  undiscovered.  The  fort  was  a  pentagon, 
surrounded  by  a  high  embankment,  and  thirt}^  paces 
in  front  of  the  glacis  was  a  strong  slashing.  A  small 
hill  beyond  was  held  with  a  redoubt.  The  works 
were  quite  extensive. 

Don  op  placed  the  eight-pound  guns  and  the  two 
mortars  on  the  right,  and  in  support,  Minnigerode's 
battalion  and  the  Light  Infantry  ;  v.  Mirbach's  regi 
ment  in  the  center,  v.  Linsingen's  battalion  on  the 
left ;  v.  Lengerke's  battalion  and  some  Yagers  on  the 
Delaware,  to  guard  against  a  landing  and  to  protect 
his  rear.  Before  each  battalion  there  were  sappers 
and  a  hundred  men  carrying  hastily-gathered  fas 
cines,  led  by  a  captain. 

Donop,  at  4  P.  M.,  sent  a  summons  to  surrender, 
with  a  threat  of  no  quarter,  if  it  was  refused,  and 
received  a  reply  that  the  fort  would  be  held  to  the 
last  man.  As  the  report  was  that  vety  few  men  were 
seen  in  the  fort,  Donop  decided  to  attack  at  once,  and 
made  a  stirring  address,  to  which  the  men  replied : 
u  We  '11  change  the  name  from  Fort  Red  Bank  to 
Fort  Donop ; "  and  put  himself,  with  his  officers, 
sword  in  hand,  at  the  head. 

They  charged  gallantly,  but  soon  found  their  road 
broken  by  deep  ditches,  and  could  move  only  singly ; 
they  wrere  met  with  a  sharp  fire  in  front  and  flank 
from  a  covered  battery  and  from  two  vessels  in  the 
river.  Still  the  troops  pressed  on ;  v.  Minnigerode 
had  taken  the  outlying  redoubt  by  storm  ;  the  Anier- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  119 

icans  at  first  gave  way,  but  soon  stood  fast,  and 
before  their  fire  Donop  and  Minnigerode  and  many 
other  officers  fell,  casting  dismay  on  their  men. 

Col.  v.  Linsingen  succeeded  to  the  command  and 
did  all  he  conld  to  restore  order ;  bnt  the  Hessians 
fell  back  in  disorder.  Dead  and  wonnded  were  aban 
doned,  and  v.  lyinsingen  brought  the  little  remnant 
off  under  cover  of  the  night,  and  on  the  next  after 
noon  reached  Philadelphia. 

The  fault  lay  with  Howe,  who  had  refused  Donop's 
request  for  more  artillery,  had  not  supplied  the  nec 
essary  utensils  for  a  siege  —  not  even  sending  storm 
ing  ladders  or  any  means  of  scaling  the  walls  —  had 
taken  no  means  to  learn  the  nature  of  the  position, 
and  had,  as  usual,  shown  too  little  respect  for  the 
enemy. 

Col.  Greene  had  wisely  acted  on  the  suggestion  of 
the  French  engineer,  Capt.  Duplessis,  in  withdrawing 
from  the  unfinished  outwork  and  concentrating  his 
strength  in  the  fort  itself  —  thus,  too,  misleading 
Donop,  through  the  report  of  the  small  force  that 
held  it. 

After  the  repulse,  when  the  officers  came  out,  Du 
plessis  heard  Donop's  cry  for  help  and  at  once  took 
care  of  him.  The  Americans  buried  180  and  cap 
tured  over  a  hundred  wounded. 

The  Hessians  lost  650  in  all  —  among  them  Col.  v. 
Schieck,  Capt.  v.  Bojatzky,  Lieuts.  Riemann,  Dupuy, 
v.  Wurmb,  Hille  and  v.  Offenbach ;  Col.  v.  Donop, 
Capt.  Wagner,  Lieut.  Heymel,  and  many  slightly 


I2O  The   German   Allies 

wounded  ;   while   the  Americans   reported  their  loss 
as  32. 

The  wounded  were  tenderly  cared  for  by  the  Amer 
icans  —  Doiiop,  especially,  was  treated  with  attention. 
He  died  October  29th,  in  his  thirty-seventh  year,  and 
was  buried  writh  military  honors.  His  death  was 
greatly  mourned,  both  in  the  army  and  at  home. 

Ewald  says,  in  his  "  Essay  on  the  Service  of  Light 
Troops,"  the  attack  was  entirely  unexpected,  and  if 
made  promptly  and  in  the  right  way,  on  both  fronts, 
would  have  been  successful. 

Howe  determined  to  gain  the  fort  at  any  price ; 
sent  to  New  York  for  reinforcements,  gathered  at 
Staaten  Island  a  fleet  of  40  transports,  with  4,000 
men,  among  them  the  Bayreuth  regiment,  and  abun 
dant  supplies,  under  convoy  of  two  men-of-war,  which 
reached  the  Delaware  on  November  ioth,  joined  one 
division  of  Howe's  fleet  at  New  Castle,  150  sail,  and 
the  other  at  Chester,  200  sail,  while  the  admiral's 
great  98-gun  ship  rode  proudly  at  their  head,  as  they 
moved  up  the  stream,  opening  a  heavy  fire  on  the 
fort,  and  for  three  days  and  nights  pouring  in  an 
unceasing  storm  of  shot  and  shell. 

The  Americans  abandoned  the  fort  at  Mud  Island 
when  it  was  in  ruins,  crossed  the  river  and  retreated 
to  Red  Bank,  while  the  British  troops  were  landed 
and  joined  Cornwallis  in  preparation  for  an  attack. 
Every  thing  was  ready,  when,  on  the  night  of  the 
2oth,  the  Americans  abandoned  and  blew  up  their 
forts  and  ships. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  121 

Cornwallis  sent  out  troops  in  pursuit,  but  finally 
withdrew  again  across  the  Delaware  and  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  entering  the  city  with  great  military 
display  on  the  ayth,  and  taking  up  position  on  the 
fourteen  redoubts  which  covered  the  approaches  on 
the  land  side.  The  Hessians  were  on  the  Schuylkill 
front,  the  main  body  quartered  in  the  houses  on  the 
Neck,  in  a  region  reminding  them  of  their  native 
country. 

The  Americans  tried  to  tempt  the  Germans  to 
desert,  and  Gen.  Putnam  issued  a  proclamation  in 
German,  to  which  Captain  Emmerick,  commanding 
a  German-loyalist  volunteer  corps,  replied  in  a  man 
ner  worthy  of  a  German  soldier  and  patriot. 

Emmerick  had  fought  bravely  in  the  Seven  Years ' 
War,  and  after  the  peace,  had  settled  in  America. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  he 
returned  to  Germany,  raised  a  volunteer  corps  for 
service  under  the  British  flag,  and  showed  courage 
and  skill  in  his  conduct.  In  1809  he  took  a  leading 
part  in  a  conspiracy  against  Jerome  Bonaparte,  king 
of  Westphalia,  and  was  executed.  His  name  is  still 
piously  cherished  by  his  countrymen  as  a  sacrifice  to 
his  love  of  liberty. 

Howe  spent  the  winter  with  his  army  in  Philadel 
phia,  once  making  a  reconnoisance  in  force  towards 
Chestnut  Hill,  Whitemarsh  and  Edge  Hill,  trying 
to  find  a  place  to  attack  the  American  lines,  and  at 
another  time  across  the  Schuylkill,  leaving  Knyp- 
hausen  in  command ;  but  Washington  held  his  posi- 
16 


122  The  German  Allies 

tion  at  Valley  Forge  and  prevented  any  real  advance. 
Howe  was  greatly  blamed  for  not  using  his  strong 
force,  well  equipped  and  supplied,  against  the  weak 
body  of  the  Americans,  suffering  from  want  of  the 
necessaries  of  life.  Occasional  exchange  of  shots, 
and  some  slight  skirmishes,  were  the  only  active 
service. 

On  April  22d,  Gen.  Clinton  relieved  Gen.  Howe 
of  his  command.  Clinton  himself  had  been  in  New 
York,  with  a  force  too  small  to  do  more  than  resist 
American  attacks,  such  as  that  of  Sullivan,  in  which 
the  German  troops  were  warmly  praised  for  their 
gallantry. 

Chaplain  Waldeck,  in  his  diary,  says  that  one  of 
the  captured  officers  had  two  brothers  serving  with 
the  loyalist  provincial  troops. 

Cornwallis  divided  his  force  into  four  corps,  to  be 
sent  each  in  a  different  direction  through  New  Jer 
sey,  to  capture  cattle  —  as  fresh  food  was  growing 
scarce  —  and  drive  the  Americans  off. 

Cornwallis  himself,  with  Gen.  Campbell  and  the 
Bayreuth  and  Waldeck  Grenadiers,  under  Captain 
Seitz,  and  other  troops,  crossed  from  Staaten  Island 
and  moved  rapidly  through  Elizabeth,  when  he  struck 
Putnam's  corps  and  drove  it  some  distance,  capturing 
500  head  of  cattle  and  1,500  sheep.  Seitz  covered 
the  rear  as  it  withdrew  to  New  York. 

In  September,  two  new  Hessian  Yager  companies 
and  some  Bayreuth  recruits  joined  their  regiments. 
Among  the  new  arrivals  was  the  young  v.  Ochs,  a 


In  the   American   Revolution.  123 

volunteer,  who  subsequently  became  a  general,  and 
lias  left  some  interesting  recollections  of  his  experi 
ences  in  America. 

In  October,  the  Bayreuth  and  Waldeck  regiments 
were  embarked  on  transports,  to  go  up  the  Hudson 
to  Burgoyiie's  relief,  but  soon  after  starting,  came  the 
news  of  Burgoyne's  surrender,  and  the  Waldeck  reg 
iment  disembarked  at  Fort  Knyphausen. 

A  detachment  of  the  Bayreuth  regiment,  under 
Capt.  v.  Eyb,  was  forced  to  land  and  fight  its  way 
back  to  Kingsbridge,  to  escape  the  fire  of  the  Amer 
icans  from  the  shore. 

Finalty,  the  Waldeck  regiment  was  sent  to  Staaten 
Island  for  the  winter,  and  the  Bayreuth  regiment  to 
the  Delaware.  * 

Gen.  Clinton  himself  led  a  force,  partly  English, 
partly  German,  including  the  Hessian  Grenadier  bat 
talion  of  Kohler,  the  Ansbach  Grenadiers  and  Triim  - 
bach's  regiment,  and  the  Hessian  Yagers,  and  landing 
at  Stony  Point,  marched  across  country  and  made  a 
simultaneous  assault  on  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort 
Clinton,  commanded  by  General  James  Clinton  and 
General  George  Clinton.  After  a  hard  day's  fight, 
both  were  taken  —  the  two  commanders  and  most  of 
the  garrison  escaping,  but  leaving  a  hundred  guns,  a 
large  supply  of  provisions  and  ammunition,  and 
burning  their  ships  at  anchor. 

The  Ansbach  Grenadiers  and  their  Captain,  v. 
Eckert,  won  Clinton's  special  praise.  Eckert  was 
desperately  wounded  and  died  in  New  York. 


124  The  German  Allies 

Lieut,  v.  Bentheim,  of  the  Hessians,  also  fell,  and 
the  German  soldiers,  always  favorites  of  Clinton's, 
were  particularly  commended  by  him  for  their  brav 
ery  in  this  brilliant  operation. 

Razing  the  forts  to  the  ground,  throwing  the  guns 
and  supplies,  that  he  could  not  carry  off,  into  the 
Hudson,  he  withdrew  safely  to  New  York. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


After  a  long  and  severe  winter,  Gen.  Carleton 
began  preparations  for  the  campaign  from  Canada, 
which.  Gen.  Burgoyne  had  planned  in  London,  look 
ing  to  the  union  of  the  two  armies  at  Albany. 

Gen.  Carleton  sent  out  small  bodies  of  Indians  to 
try  to  gather  news  of  Howe's  army,  but  with  little 
success. 

Gen.  Riedesel,  in  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Bruns 
wick,  wrote  that  neither  Carleton  nor  he  had  the 
slightest  idea  of  Howe's  plan,  or  of  the  whereabouts 
of  his  army. 

Burgoyne  arrived  from  England  in  May,  but  with 
no  orders,  other  than  one  giving  him  the  command 
of  all  operations  outside  of  Canada,  thus  setting  aside 
Carleton,  who,  in  spite  of  his  successes,  was  no  favor 
ite  at  court  —  he  had  asked  for  30,000  men  to  carry 
out  the  plan  which  Burgoyne  was  ready  to  undertake 
with  the  small  force  in  hand. 

Even  Howe  was  junior  to  Carleton,  and  Riedesel 
saw  in  this  a  reason  for  passing  over  Carleton  in  the 
choice  of  a  leader. 

Carleton  transferred  the  command  to   Burgoyne, 


126  The  German  Allies 

and  helped  him  in  every  way  to  prepare  for  the  cam 
paign,  and  Burgoyiie  promptly  consulted  Riedesel. 

Carleton  was  to  retain  in  Canada  a  force  of  Bruns 
wick  and  Hesse  Hanau  troops,  under  Lieut.-Col.  v. 
Ehrenkrook.  Burgoyne  was  to  take  3,600  Germans 
in  his  total  strength  of  8,000  men. 

In  June,  a  fleet  of  39  sail  brought  German  recruits 
and  the  wife  of  Gen.  v.  Riedesel,  with  her  three  little 
children.  Her  memoirs  are  among  the  most  inter 
esting  and  well-authenticated  personal  narratives  of 
the  war,  and  have  endeared  her  name  to  many  read 
ers  of  many  nationalities. 

The  army  rendezvous  was  at  Cumberland  Head ; 
the  German  corps,  in  two  brigades,  the  left  wing ;  the 
first  brigade,  under  Col.  v.  Specht,  the  regiments  of  v. 
Riedesel,  v.  Specht,  and  v.  Rhetz ;  the  second  brig 
ade,  under  Col.  v.  Gall,  the  regiments  Prince  Fred 
erick  and  Hesse  Hanau.  The  Grenadiers,  the  Light 
battalion  and  the  Yagers,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Brey- 
mann,  were  the  reserve,  and  the  Dragoons  were  the 
escort  at  head-quarters. 

The  army  was  moved  by  boats  across  Lake  Cham- 
plain  in  gallant  array,  while  the  Indians  moved  by 
land.  Burgoyne  gave  their  chiefs  a  formal  recep 
tion,  and  the  Germans  were  formally  welcomed  as 
brethren.  At  Crown  Point  the  army  landed,  and 
there  found  two  German  families,  settled  there  for 
many  years.  The  Brunswick  chaplain  baptized  two 
of  the  adults,  who  had  for  years  been  without  the 
benefits  of  the  church. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  127 

Burgoyne  handed  the  command  over  to  Riedesel, 
while  he  pushed  forward  with  the  advance,  under 
Fraser. 

Fort  Ticonderoga  was  at  last  uncovered,  with  its 
two  main  works,  Fort  Carillon  and  Fort  Independ 
ence,  and  an  old  French  redoubt,  all  well  manned 
with  eight  and  six-pounders,  and  the  old  French 
lines,  but  the  Americans,  with  their  small  force,  had 
wisely  made  their  defense  within  much  less  ground. 
Port  Independence  had  one  thirty-two-pounder,  six 
heavy  guns,  and  twelve  in  its  outworks  —  and  pali 
sades  and  ditches,  with  an  outwork ;  while  a  floating 
bridge  connected  the  two  forts,  protected  by  heavy 
chains.  Heavy  batteries  protected  both  shores.  The 
garrison  of  3,500  men,  under  General  St.  Clair,  an 
experienced  soldier  of  the  Old  French  War,  was  well 
supplied,  and  the  French  had  named  the  fort  a  "  cul 
de  sac,"  so  strong  was  it  by  nature  and  by  its  defens 
ive  works. 

On  July  ist,  the  army  moved  forward  in  two  col 
umns,  the  left  under  Riedesel,  the  right  under  Phil 
lips.  Breymann  was  with  the  reserve,  and  the  German 
Dragoons  were  in  the  advance.  At  the  first  landing 
of  the  leading  four  German  regiments,  so  little  pains 
was  taken  to  prepare  a  camp  that  the  men  were  lost 
in  the  woods,  and  only  by  morning  could  they  join 
their  colors. 

Gen.  Phillips,  following  Fraser's  advance,  engaged 
the  American  outposts,  while  Riedesel  moved  at  once 
against  Fort  Independence. 


128  The  German  Allies 

During  the  delay  in  preparing  to  attack,  an  Amer 
ican  reinforcement,  800  strong,  in  spite  of  the  Indi 
ans,  entered  the  fort. 

Captain  Gerlach,  with  a  hnndred  men,  was  sent  on 
a  reconnoisance,  to  cut  off  the  line  to  New  Hamp 
shire.  A  battery  was  placed  on  a  hill  commanding 
both  forts  and  bridge,  and  the  Americans  soon  aban 
doned  their  strong  position  —  Riedesel  seizing  Fort 
Independence  and  placing  Breymann's  corps  there, 
and  Fraser  occupying  Fort  Carillon. 

Eighty  guns,  1,500  small  arms,  5,000  tons  of  flour, 
200  oxen  and  great  stores  of  all  kinds,  showed  with 
what  precipitation  the  Americans  had  withdrawn. 

The  negligence  of  the  Americans  to  defend  Sugar 
Hill  was  heavily  punished  by  the  loss  of  this  import 
ant  post,  which  the  French  had  defended  at  the  sac 
rifice  of  2,000  lives. 

Riedesel  was  at  once  ordered  in  pursuit  by  land 
and  the  rest  of  the  army  by  water  —  leaving  the 
Brunswick  regiment  as  part  of  the  garrison  to  hold 
Ticonderoga. 

Riedesel  moved  rapidly  forward  and  soon  found 
Fraser  engaged.  He  put  his  Yagers  into  action  and 
gave  Capt.  v.  Geisaii  orders  to  turn  the  right  flank  of 
the  enemy.  They  soon  relieved  Fraser,  who  heartily 
thanked  Riedesel,  his  old  friend  in  many  hard-fought 
actions  during  the  Seven  Years'  War  in  Germany. 

Capt.  Schottelius  was  commended,  with  the  other 
officers,  for  gallantry  in  their  first  engagement. 

A  Brunswick  Grenadier  officer  reported  that  of  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  129 

enemy,  2,000  strong,  over  200  were  captured  —  Brig 
adier  v.  Specht  says  297. 

Riedesel  learned  the  advantage  of  the  American 
method  of  fighting  in  open  order,  and  issned  orders 
to  his  officers  to  practice  their  men  in  this  new  sys 
tem,  thus  adding  a  useful  lesson  to  the  strict  Ger 
man  discipline. 

Burgoyne  decided  to  move  directly  to  the  Hudson 
and  then  to  Albany.  Riedesel  ordered  his  officers  to 
procure  pack  horses  and  relieve  the  men  from  the 
weight  of  their  baggage  during  the  severe  marches. 

American  loyalists  reported  at  the  German  head 
quarters,  on  July  2ist,  that  the  Americans  had  aban 
doned  Fort  George.  Riedesel  and  Burgoyne  had  a 
long  council  at  Skenesborough,  where  the  Americans 
had  burned  the  fort  and  magazine  and  mills,  and 
destroyed  their  arms  and  provisions.  Fifty  German 
soldiers  were  left  there  to  keep  open  communication 
between  the  army  in  its  advance  and  the  magazines 
at  Ticonderoga. 

The  Americans  abandoned  Fort  St.  Anna  and  Fort 
Edward  and  had  taken  up  their  position  at  Stillwater, 
on  the  Hudson. 

The  Hesse  Hanau  regiment  was  left  at  Fort  St. 
Anna,  to  forward  much-needed  supplies  and  establish 
bakeries  and  other  means  of  furnishing  food  for  the 
half-famished  men. 

August  3d,  Burgoyne  at  last  received  and  returned 
messages  from  and  to  Gen.  Howe,  and  expectation 
was  aroused  of  an  early  general  engagement. 
17 


130  The   German   Allies 

In  the  papers  of  Gen.  Schiller  von  Senden  there 
is  a  report  of  the  general  complaint  of  the  route 
chosen  by  Bnrgoyne  and  of  the  unnecessary  hard 
ships  inflicted  on  his  men  by  the  hard  inarch  through 
the  wilderness. 

To  get  a  supply  of  cattle,  Burgoyne  ordered  the 
Brunswick  Lieut. -Col.  Baum  to  make  a  hurried  march 
to  Bennington,  partly  to  gather  supplies,  partly  to 
make  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Col.  St.  Leger's  move 
ment  on  Fort  Stanwix,  by  preventing  Arnold  from 
sending  reinforcements. 

Riedesel  protested  against  the  operation  as  being 
too  late  —  he  had  suggested  it  in  July —  and  as  made 
by  too  small  a  force.  He  reported  to  the  Duke  of 
Brunswick  that  he  hardly  recognized  his  own  plan, 
so  much  was  it  altered. 

Bauin  was  ordered  to  seize  at  least  1,300  horses, 
and  the  Brunswick  Dragoons  were  ordered  to  go  with 
him  to  ride  the  horses  that  he  was  to  capture.  They 
were  utterly  unsuited  for  the  rapid  march  necessary 
for  success.  They  were  equipped  with  long,  heavy 
riding  boots,  with  big  spurs,  thick  leathern  breeches, 
heavy  gauntlets,  a  hat  with  a  thick  feather ;  at  their 
side  a  strong  sabretasch  and  a  short,  heavy  carbine, 
while  a  big  pig-tail  was  an  important  part  of  this 
extraordinary  costume.  The  poor  Dragoons  had 
already  been  the  laughing-stock  of  the  army,  and 
now  they  were  to  carry  their  supplies  with  them. 

Baum's  corps  was  to  consist  of  200  Brunswick 
Dragoons,  40  Light  Infantry,  60  Canadians,  140 


In  the  American  Revolution.  131 

Indians,  and  Col.  Peters'  force  of  1 10  men,  but  these 
were  replaced  by  men  from  the  regiments  of  his  left 
wing  and  Breymann's  corps.  Two  Hanau  guns, 
under  Lieut.  Bach,  were  added.  Of  the  551  men, 
374  were  Germans  —  360  Brunswick  infantry  and  14 
Hanau  artillerymen. 

Baum  inarched  on  August  nth,  from  Fort  Miller, 
with  Burgoyne' s  final  orders  to  go  direct  to  Benning- 
ton.  On  the  i2th,  he  met  an  American  force  and 
captured  eight  men,  and  took  a  magazine.  He  soon 
reported  to  Burgo}rne  that  Bennington  was  defended 
by  a  force  of  from  1,500  to  1,800  Americans,  but  so 
loyal  that  they  were  likely  to  retreat.  His  next 
message  to  Burgoyne  was  for  reinforcements,  and 
Burgoyne  at  once  sent  orders  to  Riedesel  to  order 
Breymann  up  —  he  was  thirty  miles  off. 

Instead  of  help  coming,  Baum  saw  the  Americans 
advancing  in  strong  force,  and  although  assured  by 
Major  Skene  that  they  were  loyalists  who  would  join 
him,  and  allowing  them  to  get  in  his  rear  and  to  cut 
him  off  from  the  Canadian  volunteers,  Provincials 
and  Indians,  posted  on  a  neighboring  hill,  he  found 
himself  sharply  attacked.  He  held  out  for  two 
hours,  when  his  ammunition  gave  out,  he  was 
severely  wounded,  and  finally  surrendered. 

Col.  Stark,  the  American  commander,  praised  the 
Germans  for  their  stout  resistance. 

Breymann  was  on  the  way  with  333  Brunswick 
Grenadiers,  288  of  Baum's  Light  Infantry,  and  21 
artillerymen,  with  two  field  pieces,  under  Lieutenant 


132  The  German  Allies 

Spangenberg.  He  sent  Captain  v.  Gleissenberg  for 
ward  with  the  advance  guard  of  60  Grenadiers  and 
Chasseurs  and  20  light  infantry,  and  then  followed 
quickly,  but  soon  met  a  large  force,  at  first  taken  for 
loyalists.  His  men  fought  well,  until  the  ammuni 
tion  was  exhausted,  and  then,  obliged  to  abandon  his 
guns,  he  withdrew,  with  a  heavy  loss.  Captain  v. 
Schlagenteuffel,  with  29  Dragoons,  were  the  only 
Brunswick  soldiers  that  escaped.  Baum  died  of  his 
wounds  and  was  btiried,  with  military  honors,  in 
Bennington. 

English  and  Americans  both  blamed  the  Germans 
for  this  disaster,  but  Baum  and  Breyniann  had  acted 
in  strict  pursuance  of  their  orders,  and  Burgoyiie 
himself  commended  the  personal  bravery  of  both 
officers  and  men. 

The  Americans  were  greatly  delighted  with  their 
success,  and  soon  gathered  a  force  estimated  at  about 
14,000,  while  the  English  lost  so  heavily  by  deser 
tion  that  Burgoyne  ordered  the  Indians  to  shoot 
every  deserter,  and  to  scalp,  too. 

Supplies  were  very  scarce  —  a  Brunswick  officer 
wrote  home :  "  The  army  is  fed  with  bread  made  of 
flour  sent  from  England  and  with  meat  salted  there, 
and  the  difficulty  of  getting  food  brought  to  the  front 
is  incalculable." 

Riedesel  took  position,  with  the  regiments  v.  Rhetz 
and  Hesse  Hanau,  seven  miles  from  Fort  Edward,  to 
open  communications  with  the  magazines. 

Early  in  September,  Riedesel  received  word  from 


In  the   American   Revolution.  133 

Gates  of  the  loss  of  a  number  of  Germans,  shot  down 
in  what  was  thought  to  be  a  revolt,  but  turned  out  to 
be  only  an  effort  of  the  prisoners  to  escape  from  a 
falling  building. 

Lieut.-Col.  v.  Kreutzburg,  who  was  with  St.  Leger, 
reported  that  the  so-called  victory  at  Oriskany  was 
very  doubtful,  and,  through  Col.  v.  Gall,  gave  a  very 
bad  account  of  the  condition  of  affairs  on  the  Mohawk. 

Many  of  the  Indians  had  left  Burgoyne  and  those 
from  St.  Leger  then  came  to  the  main  body,  but  were 
of  little  real  help.  The  American  army  was  strong 
in  numbers  and  position. 

Burgoyne  at  last  advanced,  the  Germans  forming 
the  left  wing,  and  after  they  had  crossed  the  bridge 
over  the  Hudson,  it  was  broken,  thus  cutting  the  last 
tie  with  Canada.  The  army  was  reduced  from  10,000 
to  6,000,  with  a  very  small  supply  of  provisions.  The 
20  Brunswick  Dragoons  —  all  that  were  left  —  were 
mounted,  but  on  very  poor  footing,  for  they  were  in 
need  of  every  thing.  Capt.  v.  Schlagenteuffet  was 
in  command  of  this,  the  only  cavalry  in  the  army. 

Riedesel  had  shown  his  sense  of  the  risk  to  be  run 
in  the  advance,  by  sinking  two  boats  at  Fort  Edward, 
to  be  raised  and  used  in  case  of  a  retreat. 

Burgoyne  ordered  an  advance  on  the  i5th  of  Sep 
tember,  in  three  columns — the  Germans  the  third,  on 
the  left.  The  route  was  on  the  high  road  from  the 
Hudson  to  Stillwater.  Breymann's  corps  was  the 
rear  guard  and  had  orders  to  cut  the  bridges  as  soon 
as  the  army  and  its  supplies  were  all  across. 


134  The  German  Allies 

Burgoyne  took  the  regiments  of  Speclit  and  Hesse 
Hanau,  under  Col.  v.  Gall,  and  six  guns,  and  moved 
forward  to  reconnoiter.  No  advance  gnards,  or  patrols 
or  pickets,  had  been  sent  out  —  he  wanted  to  strike 
the  rebels  on  the  head.  Riedesel  and  the  other  gen 
erals  were  with  him ;  200  men  wrent  on  to  open  the 
road  and  bnild  bridges ;  the  force  moved  a  conple  of 
miles,  then  went  into  camp  until  roads  could  be  cut 
through  the  thick  woods,  bridges  built  and  entrench 
ments  thrown  up ;  a  further  advance  was  made  and 
still  nothing  was  seen  or  learned  of  the  enemy ;  on 
moved  the  army,  and  nothing  could  be  heard  from 
one  wing  to  the  other. 

Burgoyne's  advance  guard  was  sharply  engaged  on 
the  iQth,  and  when  Riedesel  heard  of  it,  he  reported 
his  disposition  of  his  force  —  his  own  regiment,  with 
Pausch's  two  six-pounders,  in  support  of  v.  Specht's 
regiment,  which  protected  the  advance  guard  and 
workmen. 

Two  Indians  reported  that  an  American  regiment 
was  advancing  from  the  left.  Burgoyne  sent  Riede 
sel  orders  to  attack  the  enemy  on  the  right,  and  he  at 
once  ordered  Col.  v.  Specht  to  hold  the  position  on  the 
river,  and  with  the  advance,  under  Capt.  v.  Freders- 
dorf,  went  forward  until  he  had  reached  a  position 
from  which  he  could  see  the  American  army  in  posi 
tion  and  the  two  forces  contending  for  Freeman's 
Farm,  which  was  held  now  by  one,  now  by  the  other, 
of  the  two  armies.  The  Americans  were  well  pro 
tected  ;  the  English  in  the  open,  and  their  supports 


In  the  American  Revolution.  135 

not  within  effective  distance  —  the  Americans  six 
times  bringing  up  fresh  troops  from-  the  woods  that 
covered  them.  The  English  ammunition  was  nearly 
exhausted,  their  force  heavily  wasted. 

Riedesel  at  once  moved  on  the  right  flank  of  the 
enemy,  then  joined  Burgoyne,  and  Pausch  promptly 
brought  up  his  two  guns,  which  Riedesel  posted  in 
support  of  the  English  line,  already  wavering  under 
heavy  fire';  sending  his  own  regiments  against  the 
American  position,  forcing  them  to  fall  back,  while 
Breymann  successfully  repelled  an  attack  on  the 
right. 

The  Germans  had  thus,  for  the  second  time,  saved 
the  English,  and  followed  up  their  success  by  pursuit 
of  the  retreating  Americans,  until  Burgoyne  ordered 
them  to  stop  —  much  to  the  discontent  of  the  troops, 
and,  according  to  Gen.  Schiiler  v.  Senden,  simply 
because  he  did  not  know  how  to  avail  himself  of  the 
advantage  gained  for  him,  and  the  opportunity  of 
gathering  supplies  from  the  rich  country  in  his  rear. 

The  English  bivouacked  on  the  field,  where  Gen. 
Arnold  had  necessarily  abandoned  most  of  the  Amer 
ican  wounded. 

Not  only  did  the  Germans  fairly  win  the  honors  of 
this  engagement,  but  Madame  v.  Riedesel  and  the 
ladies  with  her  worked  hard  to  bring  succor  to  the 
wounded  and  dying,  and  thus  earned  the  gratitude  of 
the  men  for  their  courage  in  the  midst  of  the  horrors 
that  follow  a  battle. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


The  general  officers  rode  over  the  ground  on  the 
day  after  the  battle,  September  2oth,  to  find  a  good 
position.  A  redoubt  was  thrown  up  on  the  right, 
with  Breymann's  reserve  to  protect  it.  On  the  left 
was  a  hill  which  commanded  the  whole  valley ;  the 
Hesse  Hanau  regiment  was  posted  there. 

Burgoyne  pitched  his  camp  between  the  English 
and  German  troops,  Riedesel  placed  his  on  the  height 
on  the  left.  Posts  and  batteries  were  put  at  the  open 
ings  of  the  line,  a  deep  ditch  protected  the  front,  and 
heavy  trees  were  cut  down  to  cover  the  approach  from 
all  sides.  Pickets  were  posted  well  out,  and  the 
bridges  were  defended  with  earthworks. 

The  Americans  soon  converted  their  position  into  an 
entrenched  camp,  so  near  that  every  sound  could  be 
heard  in  both  camps  ;  but  the  British  were  altogether 
unable  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  which 
successfully  prevented  any  effective  reconnoisance. 

On  the  22d,  Burgoyne  received  despatches  from 
Howe,  and  reported  to  Riedesel  that  Clinton  was 
moving  to  attack  Gates.  Burgoyne  determined  to 
18 


138  The  German  Allies 

remain  for  eight  days,  the  time  for  further  news  from 
the  south,  and  kept  his  men  at  work  strengthening 
his  camp. 

The  Americans  did  the  same  thing,  and  sent  out  a 
small  force  that  captured  the  cattle  and  guards  of  the 
English. 

Riedesel  sent  Captain  Gerlach  across  the  Hudson 
to  reconnoiter,  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
the  feasibility  of  getting  away  with  the  artillery,  or 
of  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  right.  Gerlach  returned 
the  same  night,  with  a  report  that  by  help  of  the 
bend  of  the  river  he  had  got  to  the  rear  of  the  ene 
my's  right,  but  that  he  could  see  nothing,  except  that 
their  camp  was  in  two  lines,  the  river  on  their  rear, 
no  bridge,  but  fords  through  which  patrols  passed. 

Daily  attacks  were  made  by  the  Americans  on  the 
outposts,  but  by  cutting  down  the  woods,  preparations 
were  made  to  resist  them  successfully.  Hardly  any 
patrol  was  sent  out  without  losing  some  of  its  men. 
Provisions  ran  short,  sickness  rapidly  increased,  dis 
cipline  diminished  under  growing  hardships,  deser 
tion  increased,  in  spite  of  the  dreadful  punishment 
inflicted  on  the  deserters  recaptured. 

Burgoyne  was  daily  losing  popularity  and  confi 
dence.  He  did  his  best  to  strengthen  his  magazine 
and  protect  his  supplies,  but  on  October  i6th  was 
obliged  to  reduce  the  daity  rations  to  a  pound  of 
bread  and  a  pound  of  meat.  The  men  did  not  com 
plain,  and  Riedesel  was  glad  to  find  how  patient  they 
were. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  139 

The  eight  days  taken  by  Burgoyne  for  news  from 
Clinton  had  long  passed,  and  he  finally  took  counsel 
with  Riedesel.  An  enemy  four  times  his  strength, 
in  front  of  him,  their  position  quite  undiscoverable, 
the  winter  fast  approaching  —  he  proposed  a  flank 
movement  around  the  left  of  the  Americans  and  an 
attack  on  their  rear,  leaving  800  men  to  protect  the 
camp,  and  it  was  inspected  to  see  if  it  could  be  held 
for  three  or  four  days,  but  the  result  was  very  unsat 
isfactory —  the  works  were  too  far  apart  —  and  it  was 
decided  that  if  the  attack  could  not  be  made  in  one 
day,  it  would  be  better  to  abandon  the  camp,  cross 
the  Hudson,  renew  connection  with  Lake  George, 
and  open  it  with  Clinton.  This  was  RiedesePs  sug 
gestion  and  it  was  approved  by  the  other  general 
officers,  but  Burgoyne  would  not  hear  of  a  retreat. 

On  October  6th,  the  Americans  made  an  attack  on 
the  left  wing  with  600  men  and  retreated  in  good 
order. 

On  the  yth,  Burgoyne  ordered  1,500  men  to  be 
sent  on  a  reconnoisance,  but  the  Americans  met  it 
with  a  sturdy  resistance.  Lieut.-Col.  Speth,  with  300 
Germans,  in  the  center,  supported  by  the  v.  Rhetz 
and  Hesse  Hanau  regiments,  had  the  brunt  of  the 
fight,  and  Captains  v.  Fredersdorf,  v.  Gleissenberg 
and  v.  Dahlstierna,  and  Ensign  v.  Geyling,  were 
among  the  wounded,  the  two  Hesse  Hanau  guns 
were  lost,  and  the  whole  detachment  barely  escaped 
capture.  Breymann  and  Speth  did  their  best  to 
resist  the  attack  on  their  position,  and  Speth,  with 


140  The  German  Allies 

some  other  Brunswick  officers,  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands. 

The  Americans  fell  back  just  when  they  had  the 
key  of  the  position  and  could  have  inflicted  infinite 
injury  by  the  capture  of  the  magazine  and  supplies, 
although  their  attack  was  marked  by  a  bravery  that 
won  the  applause  of  the  German  officers. 

At  last  Burgoyne  gave  orders  for  a  retreat,  and 
Riedesel  was  to  lead  the  advance,  abandoning  about 
800  sick  and  wounded,  while  preparations  were  made 
to  cross  the  Hudson,  when  Burgoyne  suddenly  ordered 
it  to  go  into  bivouac,  and  after  a  day's  delay,  and 
abandoning  his  camp  equipage,  tents,  etc.,  again 
moved  forward,  while  Burgoyne  made  himself  com 
fortable  in  his  old  quarters,  Schuyler's  house,  in 
spite  of  Riedesel's  earnest  warning. 

The  Americans  still  pressed  on,  and  Burgoyne, 
after  setting  fire  to  Schuyler's  house  and  other  build 
ings,  found  his  retreat  threatened  on  all  sides,  his 
boats  and  provisions  captured,  his  force  under  fire, 
his  outposts  captured  or  driven  in,  and  three  batteries 
posted  in  the  rear  of  his  army,  his  supplies  cut  off, 
his  troops  losing  courage  and  discipline,  and  the  out 
look  hopeless. 

Madame  Riedesel  and  her  children  set  an  example 
of  courage  in  this  hour  of  trial  that  inspired  all  who 
saw  her. 

At  last  Burgoyne  called  Riedesel  and  v.  Gall  and 
his  English  brigadiers  into  council.  Riedesel  advised 
abandoning  guns  and  baggage,  and  pledged  himself 


In  the  American  Revolution.  141 

to  bring  the  army  to  Lake  George.  His  offer  was 
accepted  and  lie  urged  an  instant  departure.  Delay 
followed  delay,  and  finally  Burgoyne  countermanded 
the  order  to  move. 

The  next  day,  the  i3th,  all  was  lost.  Another 
council  was  called,  to  which  regimental  commanders, 
too,  were  invited,  and  all  agreed  that  to  cut  their  way 
out  would  be  a  bloody  sacrifice,  but  they  were  ready 
to  make  it.  Burgoyne  declared  that  it  was  too  late. 
He  took  upon  himself  the  responsibility  —  for  which 
Riedesel  thanked  him — and  opened  negotiations  with 
Gates  for  the  surrender,  which  finally  was  agreed 
upon  on  the  i6th. 

Of  the  5,800  men  included  in  it,  3,500  were  still 
able  to  bear  arms,  and  of  these  the  Germans  counted 

2,431- 

Riedesel  prepared  a  memoir,  in  both  German  and 

French,  which  on  the  i8th  of  October  was  signed  by 
the  brigade  and  staff  officers  of  his  command,  to  be 
submitted  to  the  Duke  of  Brunswick  and  the  public. 
In  it  he  said  that  his  reputation  had  been  sacrificed 
by  others.  His  friends  at  home  were  full  of  respect 
and  pity  and  expressed  their  full  confidence. 

St.  Leger  had,  in  the  force  he  took  against  Fort 
Stanwix,  the  Hesse  Hanau  Yager  company,  under 
Lieut.  Hildebrand,  sent  from  Hanau  in  May,  1777, 
and  landed  in  Canada  in  June  and  at  once  sent  on 
this  expedition.  He  lost  tents,  guns  and  supplies, 
and  found  his  way  back  out  of  the  wilderness  as  best 
he  could. 


142  The  German  Allies 

Burgoyne  was  received  with  great  courtesy  by 
Gates,  who  had  on  his  staff  Col.  v.  Weissenfels,  born 
in  Koiiigsberg  and  long  in  the  Prussian  service. 

Riedesel,  by  his  wife's  help,  saved  the  flags  of  his 
regiments  and  returned  them  safely  to  Brunswick. 
He  encouraged  his  men  and  acquitted  them  of  all 
blame  for  their  misfortunes.  The  actual  surrender 
was  made  with  the  greatest  consideration  for  them. 

In  Schlozer's  Correspondence  is  a  letter  from  a 
Brunswick  officer  describing,  in  a  good-humored  way, 
the  contrast  between  the  American  army  and  that 
which  surrendered  to  it. 

The  British  forces  marched  by  slow  stages  to  Bos 
ton,  with  the  loss  of  only  a  hundred  deserters  from 
the  German  troops.  Madame  v.  Riedesel  shared  her 
husband's  hardships. 

The  regiment  Prince  Frederic  had  been  left  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  and  was  reinforced  by  150  recruits  on  the 
day  of  the  American  attack,  and  successfully  repelled 
it,  as  well  as  a  second  demonstration  by  a  large  force, 
thus  saving  Canada  and  the  large  magazine  of  sup 
plies  gathered  for  Burgoyne's  army  from  sharing  his 
cruel  fate. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


The  German  prisoners  were  encamped  on  Winter 
Hill,  in  wretched  barracks,  built  in  1775  for  the 
American  troops  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Boston, 
badly  supplied  with  even  the  necessaries  of  life,  offi 
cers  and  men  stripped  of  their  personal  effects — Gen. 
v.  Riedesel  even  lost  all  of  his,  although  guarded  at 
night  by  the  militia,  who  perhaps  helped  to  take  it— 
and  robbed  of  thirty  horses,  their  private  property. 
In  violation  of  the  terms  of  surrender,  by  which  the 
officers  were  promised  quarters  suited  to  their  rank, 
three  and  four  were  crowded  into  miserable  corners, 
and  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  had  to  pay  heavily  out  of  his 
own  pocket  for  lodgings  in  a  tavern  at  Cambridge. 

The  promises  of  improvement  in  the  quarters  and 
care  of  the  prisoners  were  violated.  Officers  and  men 
did  the  best  they  could.  The  poor  fellows  were  sup 
plied  with  shoes  that  cost  four  silver  dollars,  at  the 
expense  of  the  officers,  who  shared  their  resources 
with  them. 

The  camp  was  surrounded  by  sentries,  who  forbade 
all  intercourse  with  Boston,  while  the  officers  were 
allowed  on  parole  a  limit  of  a  mile  and  a  half  in  other 
directions. 


144  The  German  Allies 

Gen.  Heath  was  in  command  in  Boston — a  selfish, 
rough,  rude  man,  who  hardly  hid  his  hatred  for  the 
prisoners  in  his  charge.  He  paid  a  formal  visit  to 
the  generals,  and  invited  them  to  dine  with  him  in 
Boston.  He  promised  them,  in  his  general  order, 
humanity  and  kindness,  but  took  no  trouble  to  show 
them  any. 

The  other  German  prisoners  were  scattered  through 
out  Massachusetts,  in  private  families,  and  the  sol 
diers  had  to  work  for  their  food  and  clothing. 

The  winter  was  a  very  severe  one,  every  effort  was 
made  to  induce  the  men  to  desert,  and  especially  to 
get  those  who  were  skilled  artisans  to  benefit  the 
Americans  by  their  industry.  Every  device  was 
adopted  to  get  them  to  slander  their  comrades  and  to 
forget  their  duty.  Some  of  them  did,  indeed,  profit 
by  the  change,  and  found  brilliant  rewards  for  their 
new  citizenship. 

Gen.  Riedesel  and  his  officers  did  what  they  could 
to  hold  their  men,  but  of  course  had  no  means  with 
which  to  make  their  condition  endurable. 

Riedesel  secured  a  comfortable  house  in  Cambridge, 
belonging  to  a  refugee  loyalist,  and  as  he  was  only  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  Winter  Hill,  paid  daily  visits  to 
the  soldiers,  doing  all  he  could  for  them.  His  health 
was  greatly  broken  by  the  hardships  and  exposure 
of  the  last  few  trying  months.  Some  of  his  officers 
had  secured  comfortable  quarters,  but  they  were  con 
stantly  annoyed  by  the  rudeness  and  brutality  of  the 
American  officers.  Riedesel  established  discipline  in 


In  the  American  Revolution.  145 

the  camp  of  the  prisoners,  and  secured  them  the  pro 
tection  of  their  own  officers. 

The  Commissary  department  was  entrusted  by 
Gen.  Heath,  at  Riedesel's  request,  to  a  special  officer, 
Massereau,  who  made  use  of  every  means  to  enrich 
himself  at  the  expense  of  the  poor  German  prisoners. 
The  guinea,  which  Congress  had  fixed  at  28  shillings, 
was  taken  at  90  shillings  in  paper,  and  the  prisoners 
could  only  get  the  paper  at  this  rate  for  their  gold  or 
silver;  the  profit  was  the  share  of  the  commissary 
and  the  authorities  at  Boston. 

While  the  British  desertions,  to  the  end  of  Decem 
ber,  were  nearly  400,  the  Germans  lost  only  20. 

By  the  end  of  January,  a  much-needed  supply  of 
clothing  came  from  New  York,  to  help  the  men  bear 
the  cold  weather. 

After  many  efforts  to  secure  the  terms  promised  at 
the  surrender,  Congress  finally,  in  the  close  of  March, 
formally  disapproved  of  them  and  refused  to  be  bound 
by  them. 

The  British,  too,  treated  the  Germans  unfairly,  for 
while  many  of  the  officers  of  the  English  force  were 
exchanged,  not  a  single  German  officer  was,  and 
Riedesel  appealed  to  Washington,  who  gave  him  a 
kind  answer,  but  reminded  him  that  it  was  a  matter 
belonging  entirely  to  Sir  William  Howe.  He  bribed 
Massereau  with  30  guineas,  so  as  to  secure  better  care 
for  his  men. 

Burgoyne's  release,  in  April,  was  conditioned  on  a 
deposit  of  $40,000,  and  this  was  made  in  food  and 
19 


146  The   German   Allies 

supplies  sent  from  Rhode  Island,  to  the  great  benefit 
of  the  half-starved  prisoners  of  war.  Gen.  Burgoyne 
thanked  the  Germans,  through  Riedesel,  for  their 
services,  and  promised  to  report  their  good  conduct 
to  the  King  of  England  on  his  return  home. 

Riedesel  kept  his  men  in  good  condition  by  con 
stant  exercise,  frequent  inspection,  reviews  and  other 
employment,  to  protect  them  from  the  evils  of  idle 
ness.  He  and  his  wife  were  greatly  annoyed  by  the 
rude  hostility  of  the  Boston  men  and  women  of  all 
classes,  and  even  by  threats  of  personal  ill  usage. 
He  gave  his  men  leave  of  absence  for  fixed  periods, 
that  they  might  go  into  the  country  and  do  farm 
work,  b.oth  for  their  health  and  the  little  wages  they 
could  earn.  By  April  the  British  had  655  men,  the 
Brunswick  force  116,  the  Hesse  Hanau  troops  41,  off 
on  leave  on  this  plan. 

Congress  made  a  formal  proclamation,  inviting  the 
Germans  to  desert,  and  Riedsel  protested  against  it 
as  an  abuse  of  the  position  of  prisoners  of  war,  had 
the  proclamation  torn  down,  and  the  agents  who  were 
trying  to  persuade  the  men  to  desert  put  out  of  the 
camp,  and  the  American  officer  in  charge  approved 
his  course,  saying  that  the  proclamation  was  intended 
only  to  reach  the  soldiers  in  the  field. 

Lieut.-Col.  v.  Speth,  on  account  of  ill  health,  was 
allowed  to  go  to  New  York,  and  on  his  way  visited 
the  German  prisoners  —  giving,  in  a  letter  of  April 
28th,  a  sad  account  of  their  condition,  starved,  sick, 
ragged,  hopeless  and  despairing. 


In  the   American   Revolution.  14.7 

Near  Boston  there  were  repeated  examples  of  ill- 
treatment  —  a  young  Brunswick  soldier  of  the  Rhetz 
regiment,  in  trying  to  protect  his  wife,  was  brutally 
killed  by  half  a  dozen  militiamen,  and  no  punishment 
was  ever  meted  out  to  them. 

Gen.  Riedesel  loyally  supported  Gen.  Phillips  in 
his  protest  against  the  ill-treatment  alike  of  English 
and  German  prisoners,  and  refused  any  favor  that 
Gen.  Heath  showed  him  and  his  men.  The  good 
supplies  sent  from  Rhode  Island  were  taken  by  the 
Americans,  who  replaced  them  with  their  own  very 
poor  food,  thus  inflicting  new  distress  and  misery  on 
the  unhappy  prisoners.  Fifty  Brunswick  soldiers 
died  in  four  weeks,  from  the  results  of  bad  food  and 
intense  summer  heat,  and  the  hardships  consequent 
on  frequent  changes  of  quarters. 

The  sight  of  the  British  fleet  off  Boston  threw  Gen. 
Heath  and  the  Americans  into  a  state  of  excitement, 
and  awakened  in  the  prisoners  a  hope  of  release, 
but  Howe's  plans  were  all  a  succession  of  failures, 
although  he  really  meant  to  do  something  for  the 
men. 

As  the  winter  again  approached,  Burgoyne  sent  an 
officer  with  the  promise  of  a  supply  of  clothing,  etc., 
from  Canada  via  New  York,  but  while  it  was  daily 
expected,  Gen.  Heath  issued  an  order  that  the  men 
were  to  go  to  Virginia,  a  march  of  650  miles,  through 
a  country  full  of  hostile  inhabitants,  with  no  provision 
for  health  or  comfort.  Clinton  had  refused  to  supply 
the  prisoners,  and  as  Boston  was  heavily  taxed  to 


148  The  German  Allies 

feed  the  French  troops,  it  was  thought  best  to  send 
the  prisoners  southward,  where  food  was  more  abund 
ant,  and  where  the  climate  would  not  be  so  severe  for 
them. 

The  Germans  were  not  a  little  discouraged  at  the 
necessity  of  a  long  march  into  a  new  region.  They 
moved  in  three  divisions,  on  successive  days  —  the 
first  included  the  Grenadiers,  the  Dragoons,  and  the 
Rhetz  regiment,  led  by  Major  v.  Meiigen ;  the  second 
the  regiments  of  v.  Riedesel  and  v.  Specht,  led  by 
Brigadier  v.  Specht ;  the  third  consisted  of  the  bat 
talion  of  v.  Earner,  the  regiment  of  Hesse  Hanau, 
and  the  Hanau  artillery,  under  Brigadier  v.  Gall. 
Major  Hopkins  was  the  commissary  given  to  the 
Germans  on  their  march. 

Riedesel  accompanied  the  first  division  for  a  time, 
and  then  returned  to  Cambridge  for  money. 

The  journey  was  tedious  and  trying,  and  the  men 
found  great  difficulty  in  getting  shelter  or  food  in  the 
thinly  populated  country  through  which  they  moved. 
Often  bivouacking  in  the  woods,  without  tents  or 
cover,  exposed  to  frost  and  rain,  their  condition  was 
a  wretched  one. 

At  Salisbury,  Gen.  Riedesel  sent  them  $70,000  in 
paper  money,  which  he  had  secured  at  Boston  on  his 
personal  responsibility. 

Arrived  at  Fishkill,  on  the  Hudson,  Washington 
paid  them  the  compliment  of  his  presence,  but  he 
also  gave  them  a  strong  guard,  lest  Clinton  should 
carry  out  his  threat  of  releasing  them  by  force  —  for 


In  the  American  Revolution.  149 

which  purpose  lie  had  sent  some  frigates  and  troops 
up  the  Hudson,  hoping  to  find  an  opportunity  to 
force  the  post  at  Peekskill,  and,  with  the  help  of  roy 
alist  citizens,  release  the  prisoners  —  but  nothing  of 
the  sort  was  attempted. 

At  Newburg,  Gen.  Riedesel  succeeded  in  sending, 
through  Washington's  head-quarters,  money  to  sup 
ply  the  officers  with  forage  for  165  days,  and  shoes 
and  stockings  for  the  men. 

In  December,  they  passed  through  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania — and  at  Lancaster  met  a  curious  recep 
tion  ;  the  story  had  spread  that  the  King  of  England 
had  given  Lancaster  to  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  as  a  reward 
for  his  services  and  that  he  was  now  come  to  take 
possession.  The  people  were  greatly  excited,  and  it 
took  some  time  to  convince  them  of  the  truth. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  year,  they  reached  Virginia, 
and  celebrated  New  Year's  eve  in  a  wild  wood,  with 
snow  a  foot  deep,  with  no  shelter  and  little  protection. 

By  the  I5th  of  January,  they  got  to  Charlottsville, 
where  they  were  finally  followed  by  Riedesel,  who 
had  travelled  slowly,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
children.  General  Gates,  who  had  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  Boston,  did  every  thing  to  make  their 
journey  comfortable,  and  showed  them  the  greatest 
courtesy. 

In  March,  1779,  Riedesel  reported  to  the  Duke  of 
Brunswick  the  particulars  of  their  change  of  quarters 
from  Massachusetts  to  Virginia. 

Riedesel  lived  like  a  native  farmer,  built  a  block 


150  The  German  Allies 

house,  with  furniture  made  on  the  spot,  worked  at  his 
own  garden,  had  horses  and  cattle,  and  his  wife  made 
a  capital  housewife.  The  heat  was  oppressive,  and  in 
a  short  visit  to  Frederick  Springs  for  relief,  he  made 
acquaintance  with  some  of  Washington's  family. 

Few  officers  were  left  with  the  soldiers  at  Char- 
lottesville,  the  former  being  mostly  sent  to  Rich 
mond  —  it  was  thought  by  them  with  a  view  to  leave 
the  men  free  to  be  persuaded  to  desert  and  find  new 
and  profitable  employment  in  America.  Riedesel 
appealed  to  Congress  and  to  all  others  in  authority 
in  vain,  and,  instead  of  redress,  got  only  evasive 
answers. 

In  June,  the  long-delayed  baggage  arrived  from 
Canada,  but  in  very  bad  condition,  so  that  officers 
and  men  were  really  very  little  better  off  as  to 
clothing,  etc. 

In  September,  Washington  sent  Riedesel  word  that 
he  was  to  be  exchanged  and  should  go  at  once  to  New 
York.  Turning  the  command  over  to  Col.  Specht, 
he  did  what  he  could  for  the  future  comfort  of  his 
soldiers  and  started,  with  his  family  and  staff  and 
servants,  making  16  in  all,  and  20  horses  and  a  num 
ber  of  wagons.  His  journey  was  interrupted  by  an 
order  from  Congress  to  go  to  Bethlehem,  Pennsylva 
nia,  where  he  was  detained  for  six  weeks,  with  great 
discomfort — he  was  suffering,  his  children  were  sick, 
his  wife  was  about  to  be  confined,  and  he  was  not 
allowed  even  to  go  to  Philadelphia. 

When  he  finally  arrived  in  New  York,  Clinton 


In  the  American  Revolution.  151 

informed  him  that  the  exchange  had  not  yet  been 
effected. 

Riedesel  wrote  to  the  Duke  of  Brunswick,  asking 
to  be  allowed  to  return  to  his  command  in  Virginia, 
if  the  exchange  was  not  completed.  He  said  that  in 
Georgia  the  British  had  1,500  prisoners,  and  in  New 
York  400  officers,  all  working  hard  for  an  exchange, 
and  that  Washington  and  the  army  were  anxious  for 
it,  but  Congress  was  constantly  interfering  to  pre 
vent  it,  and  in  a  way  that  showed  that  no  reliance 
was  to  be  placed  upon  its  promises. 

When  Riedesel  arrived  in  New  York,  he  found  a 
number  of  Brunswick  soldiers  who  had  escaped  and 
wanted  to  rejoin  their  colors,  but  no  one  would  care 
for  them.  Some  50  Brunswick  and  Hanau  soldiers 
had  enlisted  with  a  Captain  v.  Diemar,  formerly  in 
the  Sixtieth  British  regiment,  who  was  trying  to  raise 
a  volunteer  Hussar  force,  and  who  was  thanked  by 
the  Count  of  Hanau  for  his  kindness  to  the  men,  who 
were  supplied  by  him  with  clothing  and  money  after 
their  hardships  in  rejoining  their  comrades. 

After  Riedesel's  arrival  in  New  York,  a  partial 
exchange  was  made,  including  67  officers,  with  149 
servants,  and  113  non-commissioned  officers,  leaving 
only  906  men  at  Charlottesville,  and  of  the  Hanau 
forces,  1 6  officers  and  40  servants  were  allotted  for 
exchange,  leaving  296  men  behind.  The  large  pro 
portion  of  servants  was  a  pretext  for  getting  the  non 
commissioned  officers  exchanged.  Deprived  of  officers 
and  non-commissioned  officers,  the  men  stood  stoutly 


152  The  German  Allies 

by  their  colors,  and  resisted  the  temptations  held  out 
to  them  to  make  their  homes  in  America,  with  all  the 
rewards  offered. 

The  men  made  thrnselves  comfortable  in  their  tem 
porary  barracks,  surrounded  themselves  with  gardens 
and  such  comforts  and  occupation  as  they  could  pro 
vide,  built  a  church  —  with  a  graveyard,  fitted  up  a 
theatre,  had  constant  visitors  from  far  and  near,  and 
made  new  life  in  the  desolate  little  country  village. 

The  men  were  left  for  eighteen  months  without 
pay,  and  Congress  deliberately  repudiated  the  terms 
of  the  convention  under  which  they  had  surrendered. 

Washington  stood  up  stoutly  for  their  rights,  but 
La  Fayette  justified  Congress,  on  account  of  English 
examples  of  bad  faith,  particularly  at  the  surrender 
of  Klosterseven,  in  the  Seven  Years'  War. 


CHAPTER   X. 


The  British  ministry  was  ready  to  make  every 
effort  to  end  the  war  in  1778.  Parliament  voted  it 
all  the  money  needed  for  fresh  allies,  and  Col.  [now 
General]  Faucit  again  went  to  the  Continent  to  spend 
it  for  the  soldiers  he  hoped  to  get  there.  But  the 
reports  from  America  were  not  of  a  kind  to  encourage 
new  supplies,  and  the  only  prince  who  agreed  to  give 
his  subjects  for  the  British  cause  was  the  sovereign 
of  Anhalt-Zerbst.  The  Elector  of  Hesse  refused  to 
send  another  corps,  and  was  only  finally  persuaded 
to  allow  the  voluntary  enlistment  of  some  companies 
of  light  infantry. 

The  Opposition,  in  and  out  of  Parliament,  were 
active  in  exciting  hostility  to  these  efforts  to  increase 
the  force  sent  to  America. 

It  was  said  that  Russia  was  to  lend  24,000  men, 
Switzerland  10,000,  and  the  Emperor  of  Fez  and  Mo 
rocco  24,000  Moors,  and  that  other  smaller  Asiatic 
sovereigns  had  promised  their  help. 

The  net  result  was  that  there  went  from  Cassel  220 
recruits  and  23  Yagers,  under  three  lieutenants  and 
one  ensign,  and  from  Hesse  Hanau  and  Ansbach  660 


20 


154  The  German  Allies 

men,  at  the  end  of  February,  to  complete  the  force 
already  pledged. 

In  Parliament,  the  Opposition  hnrled  contempt  on 
the  German  princes  and  their  troops  ;  but  Lord  Suf 
folk  retorted :  "  Who  saved  the  kingdom  from  a 
French  invasion  in  1 748  ?  Who  resisted  the  French 
from  1752  to  1762,  and  helped  England  to  save  Han 
over,  Brunswick  and  Hesse  from  submission  and  to 
win  at  last  a  satisfactory  and  honorable  treaty?  Who 
have  enabled  the  British  to  hold  their  own  in  Amer 
ica  ?  The  German  soldiers,  who  to-day  are  said  to 
be  worthy  of  no  good  word." 

The  German  princes  took  every  occasion  to  reward 
their  officers  and  men,  by  conferring  orders  and  dis 
tinctions  on  those  who  were  reported  as  showing 
unusual  bravery. 

On  May  nth,  1778,  Gen.  Howe  announced  that 
he  was  about  to  return  to  Egland,  and  would  be  suc 
ceeded  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  On  the  4th,  he  had 
held  a  review  of  the  Hessians  in  Philadelphia,  when 
seven  regiments  and  fourteen  batteries  and  the  Yager 
corps  were  commended  for  their  splendid  appearance. 

Only  twice  during  the  war  was  such  a  force,  so  well 
drilled,  seen  together.  The  occurrence  is  specially 
mentioned  in  a  manuscript  history  of  the  Hessian 
Yager  corps,  by  Capt.  Mehlburger. 

Festivals  followed,  one  after  another.  On  the  i8th 
of  May,  the  brothers  Howe  were  made  the  special 
guests  of  a  great  display  arranged  by  young  Major 
Andre,  called  the  Meschianza. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  155 

On  the  2oth,  the  corps  of  Lafayette,  reported  to  be 
6,000  strong,  showed  itself  across  the  Schnylkill,  and 
a  great  part  of  the  British  army  was  sent  out,  in  three 
columns  —  the  right  and  left  to  cut  off  their  retreat, 
the  center  to  march  through  Germantown  and  attack 
at  once.  The  whole  aSair  was  a  failure.  The  left 
column  saw  3,000  men  recross  the  Schuylkill,  with 
the  loss  of  only  ten  prisoners  and  hardly  a  shot  fired 
—  although  a  good  many  were  drowned.  After  a 
rest  of  two  hours,  the  British  marched  back  again. 

The  force  sent  to  Germantown  was  made  up  of 
English,  Hessian  and  Ansbach  troops.  The  brigade 
of  Wolwarth  was  left  in  Philadelphia  —  it  was  after 
wards  known  as  v.  Bose's,  its  new  commander. 

The  Yagers  moved  on  the  iQth  and  2oth,  through 
Germantown  to  Whitemarsh.  The  complete  failure 
was  said  to  be  due  rather  to  the  incompetency  of  an 
English  general  than  to  the  treachery  to  which  he 
attributed  it. 

On  the  24th,  Howe  embarked  with  all  the  honors 
due  his  rank.  Before  going  he  made  special  acknowl 
edgment  to  Wreden  and  Ewald  of  the  services  ren 
dered  by  them  and  their  light  infantry. 

Clinton,  who  succeeded  Howe,  was  deservedly  pop 
ular  with  the  German  soldiers,  for  he  spoke  their 
language,  had  served  in  Germany  during  the  Seven 
Years'  War,  and  had  been  adjutant  to  the  Duke  of 
Brunswick ;  so  that  he  and  the  Germans  were  friends 
of  long  standing. 

He  prepared  at  once  to  evacuate  Philadelphia,  which 


156  The  German  Allies 

was  threatened  by  a  strong  French  fleet,  reported  to 
be  at  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware. 

Dinklage,  in  his  diary,  on  June  3d,  noted  that  for 
eight  days  there  had  been  great  excitement  —  every 
thing  put  on  board  the  ships  ;  merchants  and  many 
families  already  embarked ;  the  streets,  from  being 
like  a  fair,  were  empty ;  all  trade  ceased,  except  the 
sale  by  auction  of  furniture  set  out  in  the  streets  ; 
most  faces  were  sad  and  anxious,  but  a  few  showed 
their  hope  of  better  things. 

The  fleet  of  51  sail,  with  a  convoy  of  men-of-war, 
carried  away  the  cavalry  and  the  South  German 
regiments,  3,000  in  all,  to  reinforce  New  York  and 
Newport. 

On  June  i5th,  Stirn's  and  Loos'  brigades  were 
sent,  with  the  baggage,  through  New  Jersey,  cross 
ing  at  Gloucester,  and  camping  at  Haddonfield,  where 
the  rest  of  the  army  joined  them  on  the  i8th. 

As  the  fleet  sailed  out  of  the  river,  the  passage  was 
barred  by  sinking  old  hulks.  The  sick  and  wounded 
were  left  behind,  with  a  letter  from  Clinton  commend 
ing  them  to  Washington. 

The  movement  of  the  British  force  across  the  river 
was  largely  made  in  open  boats,  but  the  Americans 
carefully  avoided  any  interference  with  the  retreating 
force. 

On  the  i Qth,  the  army  moved  on,  in  two  columns, 
one  under  Cornwallis,  the  other  under  Knyphausen. 
With  the  former  were  the  Hessian  Grenadiers  and 
the  Guards ;  with  the  latter,  the  two  Hessian  brig- 


In  the   American   Revolution.  157 

ades,  v.  Stirn  and  v.  Loos,  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach 
light  infantry,  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  loy 
alists,  and  the  West  Jersey  volunteers. 

On  June  28th,  the  rear  guard  was  attacked  at  Mon- 
mouth,  and  the  advance,  under  Knyphausen,  was 
also  threatened,  but  he  forced  his  way  through. 

Clinton  found  the  enemy  in  large  force  on  his 
flanks,  and  finally  ordered  an  attack,  driving  the 
Americans  from  their  first  and  second  positions,  but 
stopping  when  he  found  he  had  to  deal  with  Wash 
ington  and  20,000  men.  He  had  effected  his  pur 
pose —  his  baggage  trains  were  in  safety,  his  army 
concentrated. 

The  Hessian  and  Ansbach  light  infantry,  under 
Wurmb,  had  been  particularly  distinguished  by  their 
conduct  during  this  trying  retreat,  where,  for  three 
long  weeks,  they  had  been  constantly  under  fire  from 
the  pursuing  force.  Lafayette  and  Pulaski  had  given 
them  no  rest,  either  day  or  night,  and  the  Hessians 
had  abundant  opportunity  for  examples  of  personal 
valor  and  military  ability. 

A  young  Hessian  subaltern,  v.  Ochs,  who  had 
joined  as  a  volunteer  in  the  past  September,  was  so 
conspicuous  that  he  was  at  once  recommended  for 
promotion,  although  he  did  not  receive  his  new  com 
mission  until  two  years  later,  September,  1781,  when 
Wurmb  made  him  his  adjutant.  This  was  the  sol 
dier  who,  later  in  life,  as  General  v.  Ochs,  wrote  his 
memoirs,  in  which  he  dwells  on  the  useful  lessons  he 
had  learned  in  the  American  war. 


158  The  German  Allies 

Captain  Ewald,  too,  was  particularly  thanked  by 
Clinton. 

General  Knyphausen  showed  great  skill  in  pro 
tecting  the  baggage  train,  which  stretched  ont  over 
a  line  of  twelve  miles  in  length.  With  all  his  other 
cares,  he  was  carefnl  to  save  his  old  comrade,  Gen. 
v.  Steuben,  who  owed  his  life  to  Knyphausen's  com 
mand  to  his  men  not  to  fire,  when  Stenben  exposed 
himself  at  close  quarters. 

Clinton's  army  was  only  about  13,000  strong,  but 
with  the  baggage  it  covered  almost  fourteen  miles,  so 
liberal  was  the  allowance  of  personal  effects  —  for 
British  officers  then  moved  with  an  unlimited  supply, 
including  mistresses,  servants,  etc.,  etc. 

When  at  last  the  army  reached  New  York,  on  the 
8th  of  July,  it  had  lost  heavily  by  sickness  and  deser 
tion  —  Ewald  attributes  both  to  the  great  hardships 
of  this  summer  retreat. 

The  Ansbach  and  Bayreuth  regiments  were  safely 
landed  on  Long  Island  on  June  2oth. 


When  France  declared  war  against  England  in  the 
spring  of  1778,  it  changed  the  plans  of  the  commander 
in  America,  for  the  French  fleet  was  a  new  factor. 

Clinton  decided  to  strengthen  Newport,  and  sent 
there,  in  July,  a  fleet  of  seventeen  transports  and  two 
frigates.  The  troops  landed  in  Newport,  when  the 
German  soldiers  were  sent  to  Conanicut.  The  sup- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  159 

ply  of  provisions  was  very  scanty  and  the  men  were 
put  on  short  rations. 

In  New  York,  little  was  done,  and  Col.  v.  Emme 
rich  undertook  a  surprise  of  Putnam's  force,  which 
ended  very  disastrously  in  the  loss  of  50  prisoners, 
and  in  the  constant  threat  of  attack  that  kept  his 
force  at  King's  Bridge  in  a  state  of  alarm  at  all 
times. 

Soon  after  Clinton's  arrival  in  New  York,  the 
French  fleet  appeared  off  Sandy  Hook,  where  Lord 
Howe  was  guarding  the  entrance. 

The  French  sailed  July  i9th,  in  such  haste  that, 
instead  of  weighing  their  anchors,  they  cut  their 
cables,  and  suddenly  appeared  off  the  coast  of  Rhode 
Island. 

On  the  night  of  August  3d,  a  great  fire  in  New 
York  destroyed  many  warehouses  and  64  dwellings, 
and  a  few  days  later  a  stroke  of  lightning  exploded 
the  powder  on  a  vessel  lying  in  the  harbor  and  shat 
tered  many  of  the  houses  on  shore. 

In  September,  a  fleet  arrived  from  England,  with 
500  Hessians  and  200  Ansbach  and  100  Waldeck 
recruits. 

While  the  troops  were  idle  in  New  York,  watching 
the  movements  of  the  fleets,  as  they  came  and  went, 
the  Yagers  (light  infantry)  and  Col.  Emmerich  were 
busy  doing  outpost  duty  beyond  King's  Bridge,  con 
stantly  engaged  with  the  pickets  of  Washington's 
force  at  White  Plains. 

An  adventurous  young  Frenchman,  Armand,  for- 


160  The  German  Allies 

merly  an  officer  of  the  French  army,  at  the  head  of  a 
force  of  trained  sharpshooters  and  Indians,  was  con 
stantly  looking  for  occasions  to  harry  the  British 
force. 

Emmerich,  strengthened  by  Ewald,  was  able  to 
give  a  good  account  of  his  force. 

Ewald,  in  his  book  on  Outpost  Duties,  dwells  on 
his  success  in  outwitting  the  Indians  and  giving  them 
a  lesson  which  deprived  them  of  much  of  the  terror 
they  had  once  inspired  in  the  Germans. 

The  Americans  reproached  the  English  for  the  use 
of  savage  allies,  but  were  themselves  glad  to  get  the 
help  of  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  who  lost  heavily  in 
these  successive  engagements. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  leaving  their  baggage 
in  New  York,  the  British  army  in  New  York  moved 
out,  one  column,  under  Cornwallis,  going  southward 
across  the  Hudson  into  New  Jersey,  the  other,  under 
Knyphausen,  across  King's  Bridge  into  Westchester 
county  —  this  force  included  four  Hessian  Grenadier 
battalions,  the  Guard  and  v.  Donop's  regiments,  and 
some  light  infantry ;  the  Crown  Prince's  and  v.  Wis- 
senbach's  regiments  followed  in  supporting  distance. 
Passing  Fort  Independence,  it  advanced  to  the  Phil- 
lipps  house,  where  Knyphausen  made  his  head-quar 
ters  until  October  loth.  His  left  and  Cornwallis' 
right  were  separated  by  the  Hudson,  and  communi 
cation  was  kept  up  by  boats  without  difficulty. 

On  September  3oth,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Wurmb  sent  out 
his  pickets  as  usual,  between  Dobbs'  Ferry  and  Tar- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  161 

rytown,  and  then  ordered  Capt.  v.  Donop,  with  70 
infantrymen  and  20  mounted  Yagers,  on  a  foraging 
expedition.  Donop  sent  Lieut.  Bickel  on  his  left  to 
the  Hudson,  and  Lieut.  Mertz,  with  the  mounted 
Yagers,  on  his  right.  The  latter  soon  came  across 
some  American  cavalry,  and  Donop  hurried  forward 
to  his  support,  but  Mertz  was  captured,  with  quite  a 
severe  loss,  before  the  force  sent  by  Donop  could  come 
to  the  rescue,  and  Donop  himself  had  to  retreat  to  a 
hill  and  look  out  for  his  own  safety. 

Early  in  October,  the  regiment  of  v.  Seitz  was 
ordered  to  Halifax,  and  the  officers  were  handsomely 
entertained  by  Clinton.  It  embarked  on  the  man- 
of-war  Delaware,  but  as  this  frigate  waited  for  the 
fleet  which  Admirals  Byron  and  Parker  were  taking 
against  the  French,  it  was  not  until  the  i9th  that 
the  fleet  of  100  sail  started. 

Instead  of  a  cruise  of  three  or  four  days,  it  was  not 
until  November  i3th  that  Halifax  was  reached,  and 
between  bad  weather,  an  unseaworthy  ship,  and  a 
scanty  supply  of  provisions,  the  German  soldiers 
found  this  one  of  their  worst  experiences. 

Clinton  organized  another  expedition  for  the  south, 
to  seize  Savannah,  which  was  full  of  supplies  for  the 
American  army,  and  weakly  garrisoned.  He  sent 
the  two  Hessian  regiments,  v.  Wissenbach  and  v. 
Trumbach,  with  other  troops,  making  in  all  a  force 
of  3,500  men,  which  sailed  on  November  2 7th,  in  a 
fleet  under  Commodore  Parker,  and  reached  Savan 
nah  on  the  29th  of  December. 

21 


1 62  The  German  Allies 

The  German  regiments  took  part  in  the  attack  on 
the  American  defences,  which  were  soon  captured, 
with  a  heavy  loss  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  who 
at  once  abandoned  Savannah,  and  the  Hessian  regi 
ments  were  quartered  there. 

Augusta  was  soon  afterwards  taken,  and  attempts 
made  to  capture  Charleston,  but  without  success. 

The  v.  Wissbach  regiment  was  particularly  distin 
guished  by  its  capture  of  an  American  man-of-war, 
the  Rattlesnake,  of  16  guns,  in  Stono  Ferry.  On 
board  of  her  were  found  guns  and  flags  taken  from 
the  Hessians  at  Trenton.  The  former  were  at  once 
handed  over  to  the  v.  Wissenbach  regiment,  and  the 
latter  were  returned  to  it  on  its  arrival  in  Cassel. 
This  fact  is  mentioned  in  the  diary  of  Reuber,  a 
non-commissioned  officer,  but  he  gives  no  explan 
ation  of  how  these  flags,  etc.,  happened  to  be  on  a 
man-of-war. 

The  v.  Triimbach  regiment  was  also  very  heartily 
thanked  for  its  good  and  efficient  service  in  this  try 
ing  campaign. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  various  promotions  led  to 
a  number  of  changes  in  the  Hessian  regiments.  In 
October,  v.  Bose,  commanding  the  v.  Triimbach  regi 
ment,  was  made  major-general,  and  Col.  v.  Kospoth, 
of  the  Elector's — formerly  v.  Wutgenau — regiment, 
was  also  made  a  major-general,  and  the  lieutenant- 
colonels,  Kohler,  Kurtz  and  Bremer,  were  made 
colonels. 

The  winter  of  1778  was  spent  quietly  at  Newport. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  163 

The  arrival  of  the  French  off  the  coast  of  Rhode 
Island  aroused  the  forces  there  to  new  activity. 

On  July  26th,  the  "  Falcon  "  brought  news  from 
Lord  Howe  and  Gen.  Clinton,  to  Gen.  Pigot  and 
Commodore  Brisbon,  that  the  French  fleet  had  sailed, 
under  Admiral  d'Estaing,  and  might  be  looked  for  at 
any  time. 

Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  them,  and  the 
next  day  the  fleet  was  seen  off  the  entrance  to  the 
harbor,  in  stately  array  —  twelve  line-of-battle  ships 
and  four  frigates,  under  the  French  flag,  stretched 
from  Point  Judith  to  B  rental's  Neck. 

At  the  same  time,  intelligence  came  that  danger 
threatened  on  the  land  side,  for  reports  were  received 
that  the  four  New  England  provinces  were  organiz 
ing  an  army  for  the  conquest  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  Ansbach-Bayreuth  regiment  was  brought 
over  from  the  island  of  Connanicut,  leaving  only  50 
men  on  duty  there,  marched  through  Newport  and 
encamped  at  Windmill  Hill. 

Three  ships  of  the  French  fleet  sailed  up  the  East 
or  Second  (or  Seconset)  River,  but  meeting  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  batteries  on  the  shore,  came  to  anchor 
off  Sachuest  Beach. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3Oth,  the  French  line-of- 
battle  ships  passed  the  batteries  on  Connanicut  and 
moved  up  Narragansett  Bay. 

The  50  Ansbach-Bayreuth  soldiers  left  on  Con 
nanicut  evacuated  their  post,  after  destroying  their 
guns  and  ammunition,  and  rejoined  their  regiments. 


164  The  German  Allies 

The  British  frigates  lying  in  the  bay  took  shelter 
under  the  shore  batteries,  and  the  French  opened 
communication  by  water  with  Providence,  which  soon 
sent  out  a  fleet  of  small  American  vessels. 

The  three  French  frigates  again  sailed  up  the  East 
River  and  anchored  in  front  of  the  battery  at  Fog- 
land  Ferry,  where  the  company  of  the  Ditfurth  regi 
ment  was  stationed  at  Black  Point. 

The  English  men-of-war  first  sought  shelter  under 
cover  of  the  batteries  and  were  then  set  fire  to  and 
exploded  in  majestic  splendor.  Capt.  v.  Malsburg 
was  in  command  on  the  land  and  saw  the  impressive 
spectacle.  He  was  shortly  reinforced  by  the  Biinau 
regiment,  which  was  afterwards  relieved  by  the  Ans- 
bach  regiment. 

The  British  lines  were  strengthened,  and  supplies 
obtained  by  gathering  into  Newport  all  the  live 
stock  from  the  island,  leaving  only  one  cow  for  each 
household. 

Eight  British  men-of-war  were  burned  and  thirteen 
sunk,  in  Narragansett  Bay,  to  save  them  from  the 
French  fleet,  as  it  swept  on  in  its  strength. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  Newport  was  in  a  state  of 
siege,  and  on  the  8th  the  French  fleet  sailed,  with  its 
eleven  men-of-war,  for  the  harbor,  trying  to  force  an 
entrance  under  fire,  and  the  remaining  British  frig 
ates  and  an  East  Indiaman  were  burned,  while  the 
troops  were  drawn  together  near  the  town,  but  the 
sight  of  Howe's  fleet  altered  the  plans  of  the  French 
and  modified  those  of  the  British  commander.  The 


In  the  American  Revolution.  165 

Bayreuth  regiment  was  sent  three  miles  out  of  town, 
to  meet  a  rumored  advance  of  the  American  army. 

On  the  morning  of  the  loth,  Howe's  fleet  was  in 
sight,  but  instead  of  a  great  sea  fight,  the  two  fleets 
were  next  seen  sailing  away. 

The  American  forces  retreated  after  hearing  that 
the  French  fleet  had  sailed  away. 

On  the  nth,  the  Bayreuth  regiment  took  position 
on  Tammany  Hill,  covering  the  left  flank  of  the 
British  line. 

Three  captured  American  officers  reported  that  an 
army  of  20,000  men,  under  Sullivan,  Greene  and 
Lafayette,  was  coming  to  cooperate  with  the  French 
in  the  capture  of  Newport. 

On  the  1 5th,  the  American  camps  on  Honeyman's 
and  Beckham's  Hills,  some  five  miles  from  the  town, 
were  plainly  seen.  The  British  lines  were  strength 
ened  with  ten  main  batteries  and  natural  and  artifi 
cial  defences  connecting  them. 

On  the  1 7th,  the  Americans  opened  fire,  and  on 
the  1 9th  the  two  lines  were  sharply  engaged,  while  the 
Americans  strengthened  their  position  and  showed  a 
determined  front  —  evidently  counting  on  a  prompt 
return  of  the  French  fleet. 

Threatened  in  front  and  rear,  the  British  position 
was  evidently  one  of  great  peril.  The  French  fleet, 
reduced  to  n  vessels,  again  came  to  anchor  off  Point 
Judith.  The  British  tried  to  strengthen  the  spirits 
of  their  men — now  deserting  in  large  numbers  —  by 
reports  that  Clinton  had  defeated  Washington's  army 


1 66  The   German   Allies 

and  was  on  his  way  to  the  relief  of  Newport,  snp- 
ported  by  Howe's  fleet. 

On  the  22d,  the  French  fleet,  finding  that  the  Brit 
ish  were  still  in  undisturbed  possession  of  Newport, 
sailed  for  Boston,  to  repair  damages. 

The  Americans  still  pushed  forward  their  prepara 
tions  for  a  regular  siege,  opening  fire  from  five  bat 
teries,  but  the  British  replied  with  great  energy,  and 
on  the  2  yth  three  British  frigates  sailed  into  New 
port  harbor,  with  the  welcome  news  that  Gen.  Gray 
was  on  his  way  from  New  York  with  3,500  men  on 
transports. 

The  Americans  withdrew  a  great  part  of  their  bat 
teries  to  the  main  land,  leaving  only  three  in  position 
on  the  island. 

A  general  attack  by  the  Americans  on  the  29th 
was  expected,  and  Gen.  Pigot,  hearing  that  they  had 
evacuated,  sent  out  a  force  of  2,000  men,  including 
the  Ansbach  and  Bayreuth  regiments,  to  reconnoiter. 
The  advance  consisted  of  147  men,  of  different  Hes 
sian  regiments,  under  Capt.  v.  Malsburg.  He  says, 
in  his  report :  "  The  commanding  general  ordered 
me  to  follow  the  retreating  enemy,  attack  them 
wherever  found,  burn  the  houses  of  any  residents 
that  give  false  intelligence ;  reinforcements  should 
be  promptly  forwarded." 

Moving  out  the  west  road  to  Redwood  Hill,  Mais- 
burg  attacked  the  enemy  in  its  redoubts  and  driven 
back,  again  renewed  the  attack  on  the  right  and 
drove  the  Americans  from  their  position.  Stopping 


In  the   American   Revolution.  167 

only  to  secure  help  for  Capt.  Noltenius,  who  was 
severely  wounded,  v.  Malsburg  pressed  on,  driving 
the  Americans  before  him,  receiving  a  slight  wound, 
but  keeping  on  for  five  miles,  until  he  reached  the 
last  American  position,  when  —  the  supply  of  ammu 
nition  being  exhausted  —  Malsburg  put  his  men 
under  cover  behind  a  protecting  wall. 

The  Americans  opened  fire  from  Barrington  Hill 
with  three  batteries,  and  Lieutenant  Murarius  was 
wounded  by  it.  Malsburg  sent  him  to  the  rear,  and 
then  ammunition  coming  up,  as  well  as  some  artil 
lery,  renewed  the  attack,  but  found  the  force  against 
him  too  strong  for  his  small  command. 

Gen.  v.  Lossberg  arrived  at  this  time,  with  four 
Hessian  regiments,  and  sent  the  Bayreuth  and  v. 
Huyne  regiments  forward  to  his  support. 

The  Americans,  too,  were  largely  reinforced,  and 
outnumbered  the  British,  who  finally  fell  back. 

Malsburg  had  been  engaged  from  7  o'clock  A.  M., 
until  4  P.  M.,  but  could  not  get  reinforcements  fast 
enough  or  numerous  enough  to  help  him  maintain 
his  advance. 

The  Americans  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  from  their 
batteries,  and  finally,  on  the  3ist,  were  safely  with 
drawn  to  the  main  land.  Their  abandoned  position 
was  promptly  occupied  by  the  Ditfurth  and  Elector's 
regiments. 

Malsburg,  in  his  diary,  reports  the  loss  of  the 
Huyne  regiment  as  87,  including  Capt.  v.  Schallern 
and  Capt.  Wagner ;  the  latter  died  of  his  wounds 


1 68  The  German  Allies 

on  the  field  and  was  buried  with  military  honors  in 
Newport.  The  other  German  regiments  sustained 
heavy  losses  and  were  awarded  great  praise  for  their 
conduct. 

On  September  ist,  the  British  fleet  arrived  in  New 
port,  with  72  vessels,  carrying  4,500  men,  Gen.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  command.  He  issued  a  general 
order  thanking  the  troops,  especially  the  Germans, 
for  their  gallant  defense. 

Clinton  soon  left,  and  later  on  Pigot  was  relieved 
by  Prescott,  while  the  command  of  the  fleet  was 
transferred  by  Lord  Howe  —  who  returned  to  Eng 
land  —  to  Admiral  Byron,  who  in  turn  sailed  on  the 
28th  of  September. 

On  October  i2th,  400  men  of  the  Ansbach-Bay- 
reuth  regiment,  including  100  light  infantry,  arrived, 
as  well  as  Major  v.  Dieskau,  of  the  Royal  Guards. 
They  had  left  Ansbach  on  the  2Qth  of  April,  were 
at  sea  twenty-two  weeks,  and  many  of  the  men  had 
to  be  sent  to  hospital  on  their  arrival  in  New  York. 
Major  v.  Dieskau  returned  to  Europe,  with  Lieuts. 
v.  Wagner  and  v.  Molitor,  on  the  i7th  of  November 
having  received  their  discharge. 

On  November  28th,  the  Ansbach-Bayreuth  reg 
iment  returned  to  Newport.  The  Landgraf  (Elec 
tor's)  and  Ditfurth  regiments  were  quartered  in  the 
south  end  of  the  town,  in  the  houses  vacated  by  the 
inhabitants.  The  v.  Huyne  regiment  was  quartered 
on  the  East  road,  the  v.  Biinau  on  the  West  road. 

The  winter  was  a  very  severe  one ;  several  of  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  169 

Hessian  soldiers  were  frozen  to  death  ;  supplies  of  all 
kinds  were  very  scanty,  for  the  French  fleet  had  cut 
off  communication  with  the  main  land. 

On  January  i,  1779,  rations  were  reduced,  and 
changed  so  as  to  eke  out  the  small  supplies.  Later 
in  the  month,  recruits  and  convalescents  came  for 
the  Ansbach-Bayreuth  regiment,  and  with  them  Dr. 
Schopf,  of  Ansbach,  afterwards  well  known  by  his 
work  on  his  travels  in  North  America.  Provisions 
and  fuel  grew  steadily  scarcer,  until  the  arrival  of 
the  great  fleet  with  supplies  from  Ireland  enabled  the 
men  to  be  properly  fed ;  but  many  of  them  suffered 
from  scorbutic  diseases,  due  to  their  bad  food.  The 
loyalist  volunteers  from  time  to  time  brought  in  sup 
plies  of  fresh  meat,  but  always  at  great  risk,  for  the 
Americans  meted  out  to  these  loyal  countrymen  very 
heavy  punishment  for  their  treason. 

Major  v.  Reitzenstein  became  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Ansbach  regiment,  and  Capt.  v.  Seitz,  of  the 
Grenadiers,  became  major,  and  Capt.  v.  Molitor  was 
given  command  of  the  Bayreuth  Grenadiers. 

On  June  25th,  the  two  Hessian  regiments  were 
sent  to  the  force  with  which  Gen.  Try  on  was  to  harry 
New  England.  During  that  month,  some  of  the 
German  soldiers  were  employed  making  hay,  for 
which  they  received  an  extra  allowance  of  three 
English  pistareens  from  the  British  commissariat. 

In  October,  Rhode  Island  was  suddenly  evacuated, 
the  fruit  trees  being  given  to  the  soldiers,  that  they 
might  lay  in  a  supply  of  fresh  fruit  for  the  journey. 

22 


170  The  German  Allies 

Many  royalists  sailed  with  the  fleet  of  102  sail,  under 
convoy  of  three  men-of-war.  The  march  out  of  New 
port  was  a  very  striking  one.  Fichtelberger  says,  in 
his  diary :  "  All  the  houses  were  closed,  by  General 
Prescott's  order ;  not  a  man  or  woman  was  allowed 
to  look  out  of  the  windows  or  to  be  on  the  street ;  the 
patrols  were  directed  to  enforce  this,  under  penalty 
of  firing  at  those  whose  curiosity  might  tempt  them." 


CHAPTER   XI. 


At  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  1779,  the  usual 
reinforcements  were  sent  out  from  Germany.  On 
March  nth,  the  Ansbach-Bayreuth  recruits  were 
shipped  on  three  boats  down  the  Main  to  Hanau  and 
then  with  the  Hanau  recruits  down  the  Rhine  to  Dor- 
trecht.  Later  in  March,  the  Hessian  recruits  were 
sent  by  the  Weser  to  Bremen.  The  whole  force, 
numbering  1,300,  was  shipped  on  the  23d  of  May, 
in  a  great  fleet,  under  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  consist 
ing  of  twenty  line-of-battle  ships,  six  frigates,  two 
bomb  ships,  and  three  hundred  transports. 

The  troops  in  New  York  had  a  hard  winter,  with 
scanty  supplies,  until  a  fleet  brought  a  fresh  supply 
of  provisions,  and  poor  quarters,  into  which  the  men 
were  crowded  still  more  after  a  fire  had  destroyed 
many  houses,  for  they  were  still  mostly  of  wood. 

The  forces  outside  the  city,  at  Kingsbridge,  were 
better  off,  for  they  had  comfortable  huts,  nine  for 
each  company,  and  each  officer  had  his  own,  all  sur 
rounded  with  gardens  in  which  flowers  and  vegetables 
were  grown.  The  huts  of  the  subalterns  had  two 
rooms,  those  of  the  captains  three,  with  windows  ; 
behind  the  huts  were  stalls  for  horses,  pigs,  chickens 


1 72  The  German  Allies 

and  other  stock ;  so  that  every  thing  had  a  peaceful 
look. 

Early  in  February,  Gen.  v.  Bose  arrived  from 
Newport,  and  resumed  command  of  his  brigade,  and 
preparations  were  made  for  an  early  resumption  of 
hostilities. 

Gen.  Tryon  received  orders  to  take  an  armed  force 
into  Connecticut,  including  the  Guards  and  Emme 
rich's  volunteers.  The  detachment  marched  at  night 
and  the  next  day  fell  upon  an  American  force,  drove 
it  from  its  position,  disabled  the  guns,  carried  off 
supplies,  burned  the  village,  and  retired  safely,  after 
a  hard  march  of  65  miles  in  40  hours,  with  no  loss, 
except  an  old  powder  cart,  abandoned  in  the  mud. 

Early  in  May,  the  German  soldiers  left  their  win 
ter  quarters  and  went  into  camp  beyond  Kingsbridge, 
between  the  Phillips  house  and  East  Chester. 

After  the  loss  of  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort  Clin 
ton,  Washington  had  established  forts  at  Verplanck's 
Point  and  Stony  Point,  about  60  miles  from  New 
York,  thus  cutting  off  the  Hudson  and  barring  the 
northern  and  southern  colonies. 

Clinton  determined  to  break  this  barrier,  and  only 
waited  the  return  of  the  British  fleet  from  Virginia, 
with  reinforcements.  He  brought  the  Hessian  Crown 
Prince's  regiment  from  Long  Island  to  the  Hudson, 
and  with  the  v.  Kiiyphauseii  and  Lossberg  regiments 
it  constituted  the  v.  Hachenberg  brigade. 

On  May  3oth,  the  fleet  sailed  up  the  Hudson,  and 
anchoring  off  the  Phillips  house,  disembarked  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  173 

troops  for  the  expedition,  making  a  force  of  5,000 
men  —  of  which  the  German  contingent  included  the 
Guards,  the  Grenadier  battalion  of  v.  Linsingen,  and 
400  Hessian  and  Rhenish  Yagers.  The  Prince 
Charles  regiment  had  come  with  the  fleet  from  the 
south.  Although  it  counted  70  sail,  large  and  small, 
and  140  flatboats,  there  was  hardly  standing  room  on 
deck. 

Clinton  himself  led  the  smaller  division  of  his 
troops,  which  included  100  Hessian  Yagers,  under 
Capt.  v.  Lorey,  while  there  were  300  in  the  other 
division,  under  Gen.  Vaughan.  The  fleet  kept  up 
the  river  —  Vaughan,  with  his  division,  landing  to 
attack  Fort  Lafayette  ;  Clinton  somewhat  further  up, 
opposite  Stony  Point. 

The  Americans  abandoned  their  unfinished  works 
during  the  night,  after  setting  fire  to  them.  Clinton 
at  once  took  possession,  and  put  some  heavy  guns  in 
position,  with  which  to  open  on  the  fort  across  the 
river. 

Vaughan  attacked  from  the  land  side,  the  Hessian 
Grenadiers  being  in  his  force,  while  the  guns  opened 
from  across  the  river,  and  the  American  garrison  of 
three  officers  and  70  men,  surrendered  the  unfinished 
Fort  Lafayette,  and  with  it  three  guns. 

Clinton  returned  to  New  York,  leaving  the  troops 
in  their  position,  and  the  forts  were  strengthened, 
ditches  dug,  the  orchards  and  other  trees  cut  down,  a 
garrison  of  1,200  men,  well  supplied,  left  in  the  forts, 
and  the  rest  of  the  force  brought  back  to  New  York. 


174  The  German  Allies 

Gen.  Wayne  at  once  recaptured  Stony  Point,  and 
Clinton  returning,  again  evacuated  it.  On  his  way 
up,  his  50  mounted  Hessians,  under  Capt.  Rau,  met 
and  dispersed  an  equal  force  of  hostile  cavalry. 

While  Clinton  operated  on  the  Hudson,  General 
Try  on  undertook  a  second  invasion  of  Connecticut, 
hitherto  little  disturbed  by  the  war,  in  the  hope  that 
Washington  would  abandon  his  strong  position  on 
the  Hudson,  to  come  to  the  relief  of  the  harried  citi 
zens.  Try  on  had  only  50  Hessian  Yagers  in  his 
force  of  2,500  men,  with  which,  in  nine  days,  he 
burned  New  Haven,  Fairfield  and  Norwalk,  return 
ing  to  New  York  after  a  loss  of  150  men. 

The  Americans  took  their  revenge  by  an  attack, 
on  the  1 8th  of  August,  on  the  British  outpost  at 
Paulus'  Hook,  to  which  Capt.  v.  Schallern,  with  50 
Hessians,  had  been  ordered.  Summoned  to  surren 
der,  he  successfully  resisted,  with  30  soldiers,  the 
attack  of  a  much  larger  force,  and  held  his  post  until 
it  was  reinforced. 

In  May,  1779,  Clinton  sent  a  second  expeditoii 
southward  —  this  time  to  Virginia.  The  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Collier,  consisted  of  six  men-of-war  and 
twenty-two  transports,  carrying,  among  other  troops, 
the  light  infantry  of  the  German  Guards  and  the 
Hessian  regiment  Prince  Charles.  Landing  without 
resistance,  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  and  Suffolk  were 
taken  and  first  stripped  of  all  stores  and  then  burned, 
with  130  large  and  small  vessels,  laden  with  much- 
needed  supplies  for  Washington's  hard-pressed  army. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  175 

In  September,  the  strong  French  fleet,  under 
d'Estaing,  unexpectedly  appeared  off  the  mouth  of 
the  Savannah  river,  and  both  sides  prepared  for  the 
siege.  The  French  landed  and  put  in  position  53 
guns  and  14  mortars,  and  on  October  4th  opened 
fire.  D'Estaing  had  landed  5,000  men,  and  Ameri 
can  militia  hastened  to  join  him,  while  Lincoln 
brought  his  force,  making  a  total  strength  of  10,000, 
the  French  on  the  right,  the  Americans  on  the  left. 
Opposed  to  the  former  were  the  regiments  v.  Triim- 
bach  and  Wissenbach  ;  behind  the  palisades  and  tra 
verses,  in  the  center,  were  the  two  Hessian  regiments. 

Count  d'Estaing  soon  wearied  of  regular  siege 
operations  and  on  the  Qth  of  October  did  what  he 
ought  to  have  done  at  the  outset,  decided  to  attack 
by  storming  the  fort,  and  was  finally  driven  back, 
with  heavy  loss. 

Col.  v.  Borbeck,  who  commanded  the  Hessians, 
was  warmly  praised  for  his  share  of  the  defense. 

The  French  and  Americans  soon  parted  company, 
each  charging  the  other  with  the  failure  at  Savannah. 

Clinton  came,  with  fleet  and  troops,  to  capture 
Charleston,  and  sent  transports  to  Savannah,  with  a 
year's  supplies.  The  Hessians  suffered  from  food 
and  climate  and  complained  bitterly  of  both. 

The  regiment  of  v.  Triimbach  was  sent  to  Charles 
ton,  and  that  of  v.  Wissenbach,  later  v.  Knoblauch, 
remained  in  Savannah. 

Clinton  decided,  after  the  failure  of  the  French 
expedition,  to  recapture  South  Carolina,  beginning 


176  The   German   Allies 

with  Charleston,  and  brought  troops  from  the  north 
for  the  purpose. 

The  Hessian  Grenadiers  were  ordered  to  rendez 
vous  at  Sandy  Hook,  where,  on  the  22d  of  December, 
they  joined  the  fleet;  the  heavy  ice  threatened  de 
struction  —  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  light  infantry, 
under  Capt.  Ewald,  were  almost  carried  down  in  a 
transport,  and  owed  their  safety  to  his  coolness  and 
presence  of  mind. 

The  fleet  counted  133  sail,  and  of  the  7,500  men 
in  the  expedition,  the  Germans  supplied  the  Hessian 
regiments  Prince  Carl,  von  Ditftirth  and  von  Huyne, 
some  Hessian  and  Ansbach  light  infantry  and  a  force 
of  dragoons. 

On  December  26th,  the  fleet  sailed  right  into  the 
teeth  of  a  storm  which  made  the  poor  soldiers  very 
wretched,  and  soon  scattered  the  ships,  which  met  a 
succession  of  storms,  and  finally  reached  a  harbor 
only  on  the  28th  of  January,  and  the  point  fixed  for 
disembarkation  on  the  3ist.  There,  at  Tybee  Island, 
lay  the  transport  "  Polly,"  with  two  companies  of  the 
Grenadier  battalion  v.  Linsingen,  which  had  been 
safely  landed  for  two  weeks,  and  were  comfortably 
encamped  on  the  shore. 

The  voyage  was  full  of  hardships  —  indeed,  it  was 
thought  great  folly  to  undertake  it  at  that  season. 
Four  transports  were  sunk,  many  disabled,  one  cap 
tured —  in  all,  nine  missing.  The  hardest  fate  befel 
the  transport  "  Anna,"  with  30  Hessian  and  Ansbach 
Yagers  and  some  Hessian  artillery  ;  losing  its  masts, 


In  the   American   Revolution.  177 

and  then  drifting  helplessly  for  eleven  weeks,  with. 
250  men  provisioned  only  for  four  weeks,  their  suf 
ferings  were  dreadful.  At  last  the  Irish  coast  was 
sighted,  and  after  fresh  horrors,  the  wrecked  hulk 
made  a  landing  at  St.  Ives,  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall, 
at  the  end  of  February ;  the  men  were  sent  to  Plym 
outh  in  the  middle  of  March,  and  in  August  to  New 
York,  where  they  landed  again  in  October,  1780. 

The  fleet  remained  at  Tybee  until  February  5th, 
1 780.  The  German  soldiers  made  their  first  acquaint 
ance  with  the  climate  and  life  of  the  tropics,  saw  alli 
gators,  and  enjoyed  the  game  and  fish  and  oysters,  of 
which  great  quantities  were  at  hand  —  and  their  let 
ters  are  full  of  the  strange  sights  that  met  their 
astonished  gaze.  Finally,  some  of  the  forces  were 
sent  to  Savannah,  others  to  Bedford  —  the  greater 
part  of  the  fleet  going  to  Simon's  Island,  where  wild 
horses  were  caught  and  used  for  wagons  and  artil 
lery  ;  abundant  supplies  of  fresh  provisions  were 
obtained,  and  the  contrast  between  the  narrow  quar 
ters  on  shipboard  and  the  fine  old  plantations  was  a 
very  grateful  one. 

Clinton  now  sent  Captain  Ewald,  of  the  Yagers, 
to  reconnoiter  the  passage  of  Stono  Ferry,  which 
was  approached  only  by  a  long,  narrow  causeway, 
through  the  marshy  ground,  with  deep  water  on  both 
sides,  protected  by  part  of  Pulaski's  corps,  with  boats 
always  on  the  lookout.  Ewald  was  just  the  man  for 
the  task,  and,  accompanied  by  Lieut,  v.  Winzinge- 
rode,  he  quietly  walked  out  on  the  causeway,  politely 
23 


178  The  German  Allies 

greeted  the  officer  in  command  of  the  American 
picket,  engaged  in  pleasant  conversation,  all  the  time 
carefully  studying  the  situation,  and  returned  with 
a  very  clear  report  of  the  condition  of  things.  As 
the  post  was  not  well  guarded,  and  the  gunboat  was 
not  in  sight,  Stono  Ferry  and  John's  Island  were 
easily  taken  possession  of  on  February  i4th. 

On  the  26th,  the  army  quietly  moved  by  Hamil 
ton's  Ferry  to  James  Island  and  to  Fort  St.  John, 
which  the  Americans  had  destroyed  the  year  before. 
From  that  point  there  was  a  fine  view  of  Charleston, 
its  harbor  and  the  coast  beyond. 

On  the  28th,  four  American  frigates  opened  fire 
and  obliged  the  British  to  move  their  camp  further 
from  the  shore,  leaving  two  Hessian  Grenadier  bat 
talions  to  watch  the  enemy,  and  throw  up  defensive 
batteries. 

On  March  6th,  Clinton  took  possession  of  Fort 
Johnstone  and  began  to  throw  up  defenses  on  James 
Island,  using  the  works  abandoned  by  the  Americans 
and  the  so-called  Indian  forts  —  rough  works  of  mus 
sel  and  oyster  shells,  going  back  to  quite  an  unknown 
past. 

On  March  i2th,  a  fleet  of  transports  arrived  with 
abundant  supplies,  and  on  the  iyth  the  Hessian 
Grenadier  battalions  fell  back  from  their  old  camp 
to  a  new  position. 

The  Americans  had  something  like  5,000  men  in 
Charleston,  covered  by  hastily-made  defenses  ;  in  the 
harbor  lay  five  frigates,  a  French  man-of-war,  an  old 


In  the  American  Revolution.  179 

ship,  no  longer  sea-worthy,  and  a  number  of  small 
craft. 

On  March  24th,  the  Grenadier  battalion  v.  Linsin- 
gen  moved  to  Chnrch  Bridge,  to  connect  there  with 
the  light  infantry. 

On  the  26th,  the  English  commander,  with  his 
staff,  narrowly  escaped  capture,  going  forward  to 
meet  the  corps  of  Patterson,  coming  from  Savannah 
by  Purisburg  to  Randolph  Creek.  Clinton,  without 
escort,  rode  out  to  find  them,  the  road  leading  for  ten 
miles  through  a  thick  wood ;  about  half  way  was  a 
cross-road,  where  part  of  Pulaski's  legion  was  posted. 
Captain  Ewald,  with  his  usual  foresight,  was  on  the 
lookout  for  danger,  and  had  pointed  it  out  as  a  proper 
position  for  a  heavy  guard ;  but  his  suggestion  was 
laughed  at.  Clinton  passed  and  repassed  the  place 
safely,  but  part  of  his  staff  and  some  of  the  baggage 
of  Patterson's  corps  were  captured  there  shortly  after. 

On  the  28th,  the  army  moved  near  Ashley  river, 
which  it  crossed  on  the  29th,  engaging  the  enemy's 
outposts  —  the  advance  guard  of  Yagers  drawing  the 
fire  of  the  American  cavalry  on  outpost  duty  and  of 
some  300  riflemen,  under  cover  in  the  bushes. 

A  young  British  staff  officer  rode  up  to  Clinton 
with  the  news  of  his  brother's  death  and  his  succes 
sion  to  the  peerage,  when  the  poor  aid  was  killed  by 
a  shot  fired  by  a  negro. 

The  Yagers  hurried  up,  crossed  a  marsh,  brought 
up  a  field  piece,  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  works, 
took  possession  of  them,  and  the  next  day  the  whole 


180  The   German   Allies 

army  stood  within  cannon-shot  of  the  defenses  of  the 
city. 

Charleston  was  then  a  city  of  1,500  houses  and 
14,000  inhabitants,  of  whom  nearly  one-half  were 
blacks.  It  lies  on  the  south  end  of  a  neck  of  land, 
with  the  Ashley  river  on  the  west,  the  Cooper  river 
on  the  east ;  beyond,  to  the  east,  is  Sullivan's  Island, 
on  which  the  Americans  had  built  some  defensive 
works,  opposite  Fort  Johnson,  on  James  Island,  and 
thus  commanding  on  both  sides  the  entrance  to  the 
harbor. 

On  March  3ist,  Gen.  Clinton  undertook  a  personal 
reconnoisance  of  the  works  and  their  strength  for 
defense,  taking  Capt.  Ewald,  with  20  Hessian  Ya 
gers  —  a  task  for  which  he  was  particularly  suited. 
In  the  open  ground  around  the  town  there  was,  on 
the  right  wing  of  the  besiegers,  a  group  of  trees,  and 
beyond  a  narrow  dam  leading  through  a  marsh ; 
passing  this  without  being  seen  by  the  enemy,  Capt. 
Ewald  left  half  of  his  men  concealed  in  the  woods, 
and  with  the  others  crept  out  on  hands  and  knees 
until  he  could  plainly  see  the  works.  Clinton,  with 
two  engineer  officers,  dressed  in  Hessian  uniforms, 
then  came  openly  forward,  and  being  taken  by  the 
garrison  for  three  of  the  Hessian  patrol,  which  often 
came  quite  as  far  forward,  it  did  not  seem  worth  while 
to  open  fire,  thus  enabling  Clinton  and  his  compan 
ions,  quite  at  their  ease,  to  complete  their  survey. 

By  April  ist,  the  batteries  were  in  position  in  the 
first  parallel,  and  every  day  1,000  men  were  at  work 


In  the  American  Revolution.  181 

on  the  trenches,  and  every  night  500  were  employed 
to  complete  them  —  the  sailors  from  the  fleet  taking 
their  share. 

Admiral  Arbuthnot,  as  soon  as  he  had  landed  the 
troops,  tried  to  force  an  entrance  into  the  harbor.  He 
passed  Fort  Moultrie,  on  Sullivan's  Island,  on  the 
9th,  nnder  a  heavy  fire,  and  lay  in  front  of  the  city, 
with  most  of  his  men-of-war  —  breaking  through  a 
heavy  chain,  hung  from  shore  to  shore,  and  as  the 
stately  ships  slowly  sailed  on,  without  firing  a  shot 
or  taking  any  notice  of  the  heavy  fire  from  the  ene 
my's  batteries,  the  admiral,  in  an  open  boat,  coolly 
took  soundings,  so  as  to  guide  the  men-of-war  through 
the  dangerous  sand  banks. 

On  the  nth  of  April,  Clinton  formally  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  town,  which  Lincoln  positively 
refused.  On  the  i3th,  the  batteries  opened  fire  from 
their  24-pounders,  and  bombs  were  thrown  into  the 
town,  setting  fire  to  the  houses  in  different  neighbor 
hoods.  On  the  1 9th,  the  second  parallel  was  com 
pleted  and  manned  by  reinforcements  recently  arrived 
from  New  York. 

On  the  2ist,  Lincoln,  now  cut  off  on  the  land  side, 
too,  offered  to  surrender,  but  as  he  insisted  on  being 
allowed  to  go  with  his  garrison  safely,  hostilities  were 
resumed  after  a  two  days'  suspension  for  negotiations. 
On  the  24th,  the  besieged  attempted  a  sortie,  but  were 
soon  driven  back.  On  the  25th,  the  Hessians  lost 
heavily  in  a  severe  fire  on  the  lines  held  by  them. 

On  May  6th,  the  third  parallel  was  completed,  and 


1 82  The  German  Allies 

a  dam  was  cut,  letting  out  the  water  which  had  hith 
erto  served  as  a  ditch  around  the  works.  The  fire 
from  the  batteries,  now  near  by,  was  so  destructive 
that  Clinton  for  the  second  time  demanded  the  sur 
render,  which  was  again  fruitlessly  discussed  for  two 
days,  when  fire  was  opened  at  8  P.  M.  of  the  9th,  and 
kept  up  until  n  A.  M.,  next  day.  As  every  thing 
was  ready  for  the  storming  party,  Lincoln  at  last 
accepted  Clinton's  terms. 

On  the  1 2th,  the  garrison  moved  out  of  the  fort 
and  laid  down  their  arms  —  an  English  and  a  Hes 
sian  Grenadier  company  occupied  the  gates.  All  the 
material  of  war,  five  men-of-war  and  many  small  craft 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors.  The  garrison 
that  surrendered  consisted  of  American  and  French 
troops,  twelve  infantry  regiments,  three  artillery  bat 
talions,  and  the  city  and  state  militia  —  two  major- 
generals,  five  brigadiers,  46  staff  officers,  145  cap 
tains,  162  lieutenants,  41  ensigns,  one  paymaster, 
seven  adjutants,  six  quartermasters,  18  commissa 
ries,  329  non-commissioned  officers,  137  drummers, 
and  5,710  armed  men;  in  all  6,609,  besides  1,000 
sailors. 

During  the  siege,  the  Hessians  and  the  Ansbach 
light  infantry  had  distinguished  themselves.  They 
had  sent  every  day  thirty  men  and  three  officers  to 
do  duty  in  the  first  parallel,  to  protect  the  men  at 
work,  until  sufficient  guns  could  be  procured.  In 
parties  of  three  or  six  they  got  near  to  the  enemy 
and,  at  a  distance  of  500  paces,  their  fire  was  so 


In  the  American  Revolution.  183 

effective  that  many  of  the  guns  were  unmanned,  and 
the  riflemen  sought  in  vain  to  drive  them  off.  When 
the  third  parallel  was  completed,  their  fire  almost 
silenced  the  enemy's  guns  by  day ;  yet  the  loss  was 
a  very  small  one. 

Clinton  paid  the  Grenadiers  the  somewhat  danger 
ous  compliment  of  giving  them  white  plumes  to  wear, 
in  reward  for  their  bravery.  In  his  report,  he  praised 
the  services  of  Generals  v.  Huyne  and  v.  Kospoth. 

The  troops  had  suffered  greatly  during  the  siege, 
from  the  want  of  proper  tools,  the  great  heat,  the  bad 
water,  and  the  hard  work  the  men  had  to  do ;  and 
just  after  the  surrender,  the  carelessness  of  an  Eng 
lish  artilleryman  led  to  the  explosion  of  a  powder 
magazine,  causing  a  large  loss  of  life,  including  some 
of  the  Hessians. 

Charleston  was  then  the  most  flourishing  city  in 
the  south,  and  the  booty  that  fell  to  the  troops, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  was  a  very  great 
addition  to  their  scanty  pay.  One  of  the  Hessian 
officers  estimated  that  the  captures  on  land  and  sea 
were  worth  ^300,000.  This  was  divided  propor 
tionately  among  the  troops.  The  regiment  Prince 
Charles,  which  had  captured  a  laden  ship,  received 
the  following  shares  :  the  colonel,  ^2,000  ;  lieutenant- 
colonel,  ^1,500;  the  major,  ^1,200;  each  captain, 
^400  ;  each  lieutenant,  ^200  ;  the  non-commissioned 
officers  each  ^40,  and  every  common  soldier,  £7. 
A  commission  of  British  and  Hessian  officers  was 
appointed  to  regulate  the  distribution,  and  the  duty 


184  The  German  Allies 

was  a  tedious  one,  as  Clinton  and  Admiral  Arbuth- 
not  disputed  over  the  respective  claims  of  army  and 
navy  —  the  latter  wanting  one-half  the  value  of  the 
captured  vessels,  although  the  sailors  had  taken  no 
part  in  securing  them.  To  make  peace,  their  claims 
were  granted,  but  Clinton  and  Cornwallis  transferred 
their  lion's  share  to  the  Hessian  Yagers  and  the 
Hessian  and  British  Grenadiers  and  light  troops,  in 
reward  for  their  large  share  in  the  hard  work  of  the 
siege. 

On  the  3ist  of  May,  part  of  the  force  was  sent  off 
by  sea,  leaving  Cornwallis,  with  the  Hessian  regi 
ments  v.  Ditsfurth,  v.  Huyne  and  v.  Triimbach,  as 
part  of  his  force  to  complete  the  subjugation  of  South 
Carolina. 

The  fleet  left  for  New  York,  where  the  rest  of  the 
troops  were  safely  landed  —  going  into  quarters  on 
Staaten  Island. 

The  Hessians  reported  their  loss  up  to  the  stirren- 
der  of  Charleston  at  73  — the  Yagers,  7  dead  and  14 
wounded ;  the  Grenadier  battalion  v.  Lengerke,  4  dead 
and  33  wounded ;  the  v.  Ditfurth  regiment,  2  officers 
and  8  soldiers  ;  the  v.  Huyne  regiment,  5  wounded. 

Dr.  J.  D.  Schopf,  the  surgeon  of  the  Ansbach  regi 
ment,  in  his  "  Travels  through  the  United  States," 
volume  one,  page  53,  says:  "  In  1783,  at  Princeton, 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  many  members  of 
Congress,  honest  and  sturdy  men,  and  General 
Lincoln,  a  man  of  clear  and  strong  mind,  although 
his  reputation  as  a  soldier  had  not  been  increased  by 


In  the  American  Revolution.  185 

his  defense  of  Charleston ;  he  is,  however,  popular 
for  the  good  beer  he  brews  on  his  large  property  in 
New  England." 


The  British  commander-in-chief  anticipated  a  diver 
sion  by  the  Americans  to  the  northward,  and  he  sent 
reinforcements  to  Canada  to  meet  it  —  including  the 
two  weak  regiments,  Knyphausen  and  Lossberg. 
They  were  ordered  in  September  to  embark  on  trans 
ports,  mostly  old  and  poor  vessels.  Col.  v.  Loos,  of 
the  Lossberg  regiment/ as  senior  officer  in  command 
of  both  regiments,  went  on  the  i2-gun  cruiser  "  King 
George ; "  Col.  v.  Bork,  of  the  Knyphausen  regi 
ment,  on  the  ship  "  Archer ; "  the  smaller  vessels 
were  the  worst ;  on  the  brigantine  "  Triton  "  there 
were  no  sleeping  quarters,  and  officers  and  men  were 
obliged  to  lie  down  on  the  floor ;  the  crew,  that  ought 
to  have  counted  18,  was  only  7,  so  that  the  prospect 
of  a  northerly  voyage  at  such  a  season  was  far  from 
pleasant  —  the  captain  of  the  vessel  said  he  could 
not  be  responsible  for  their  safety  beyond  Staaten 
Island. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  22  vessels,  under  escort  of 
the  man-of-war  Renown,  of  50  guns,  and  the  sol 
diers  were  glad  to  go  to  Canada,  which  was  always 
described  in  glowing  terms. 

On  the  1 2th  a  storm  gathered,  which  broke  out  in 
great  violence  on  the  i5th,  scattering  the  fleet  and 
24 


1 86  The  German  Allies 

doing  great  damage  to  the  vessels  —  the  Triton  suf 
fering  the  loss  of  both  masts,  and  the  deck  almost 
made  untenable  by  the  guns  breaking  loose.  L,ieut.- 
Col.  Heymel  was  sick  and  unable  to  give  any  orders, 
the  captain  lost  his  head,  crew  and  soldiers  alike  were 
unmanned  by  the  impending  destruction,  when  Lieut. 
Wiederhold,  the  officer  who  had  shown  courage  in  the 
unexpected  attack  at  Trenton,  although  an  invalid, 
tried  to  inspire  the  men  with  his  own  fearlessness ;  at 
first  even  the  well-disciplined  Hessians  were  beyond 
control  —  an  almost  unexampled  condition  of  things 
-  but  in  answer  to  his  appeal  for  help  in  getting  the 
guns  out  of  harm's  way,  an  old  sergeant,  two  corpo 
rals  and  20  men  followed  him  on  deck,  and  in  spite 
of  the  dangers  from  the  sea  and  the  guns,  at  last  got 
matters  in  better  shape,  took  to  the  pumps,  until  they 
broke,  then  worked  with  such  means  as  they  could 
improvise  until  the  pumps  were  repaired,  and  did 
their  best  to  save  the  ship  and  their  comrades.  The 
captain  began  to  make  preparations  to  take  to  the 
boats,  but  was  put  under  the  guard  of  some  of  the 
officers,  until  it  was  seen  that  the  boats  were  unsea- 
worthy,  when  he  was  released.  The  storm  gradually 
subsided,  and  on  the  iyth  the  ship  was  found  to  be 
in  latitude  37,  somewhere  off  the  coast  of  Virginia — 
so  far  south  had  she  drifted  out  of  her  course.  A 
jury  sail  was  set  and  a  flag  of  distress  put  up,  but 
the  first  vessel  of  the  fleet  that  was  seen,  on  the  2oth, 
took  no  notice  of  it.  On  the  25th,  Delaware  bay  was 
made,  and  it  was  hoped  that  Sandy  Hook  would  be 


In  the  American  Revolution.  187 

reached  in  a  couple  of  days.  On  the  morning  of  the 
26th,  two  sails  were  seen,  and  help  from  New  York 
was  looked  for,  when  it  was  found  they  were  hostile 
cruisers  under  full  sail  —  one  of  14,  the  other  of  10 
guns  ;  and  the  Triton,  without  guns  or  sails,  was 
forced  to  surrender,  and  was  taken  into  Little  Egg 
harbor. 

Of  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet,  the  Renown  lost 
its  main  mast,  the  Springfield  all  its  masts. 

On  the  2ist,  the  commander,  with  the  approval  of 
Col.  v.  Loos,  headed  for  New  York ;  they  were  then 
at  latitude  36.  On  October  2d,  the  Renown,  King 
George  and  Springfield  reached  Sandy  Hook.  On 
October  I2th,  the  Badger  arrived,  without  masts, 
having  on  board  Captain  v.  Bockum's  and  part  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Schaffer's  companies.  It  had  been  in  col 
lision  with  the  transport  Clementine,  and  pursued  by 
an  American  cruiser,  only  escaping  capture  by  Capt. 
v.  Bockum's  decided  refusal  to  surrender.  On  Octo 
ber  9th,  it  was  again  brought  to  by  another  American 
cruiser,  of  12  guns,  and  as  v.  Bockum  had  no  guns, 
he  had  to  yield.  The  cruiser  took  on  board  Lieuten 
ant  Zoll  and  Ensigns  Henndorff,  v.  Waldschmid  and 
Cowan,  with  20  men,  but  as  Capt.  v.  Bockum  was 
sick,  he  was  left  on  the  Badger,  with  Chaplain  Oliva. 
Next  day,  the  cruiser  was  taken,  in  turn,  by  the  Brit 
ish  frigate  Solebay,  and  the  prisoners  again  set  free. 

The  men  on  board  the  Clementine  were  taken 
off  by  two  English  cruisers,  just  as  she  was  sinking. 
The  Adamant  went  down,  and  of  the  Guards  and 


1 88  The  German  Allies 

Major  v.  Lossberg's  company  of  the  Lossberg  regi 
ment,  there  were  lost  Major  v.  Hanstein,  Staff  Cap 
tains  Steding  and  v.  Wurmb,  Lieut.  Moller,  Ensigns 
v.  Zengen,  Rathmann  and  Waldeck.  The  Molly, 
with  men  of  the  Knyphausen  regiment,  was  captured 
and  carried  into  Philadelphia,  a  prize  to  the  shallop 
Mars,  Captain  Taylor,  who  thus  took  one  major,  six 
subalterns,  and  156  men  —  many  of  them  were  Hes 
sians,  taken  at  Trenton,  and  scarcely  exchanged 
before  they  were  again  prisoners  of  war ;  they  were 
all  sent  to  Reading  and  were  not  exchanged  until 
November,  1780. 

On  October  i6th,  Col.  v.  Minnigerode,  commander 
of  the  Third  Grenadier  battalion,  died  in  New  York. 
He  was  an  officer  of  great  merit,  49  years  old,  who 
had  won  a  decoration  and  the  affection  of  his  com 
rades  and  the  respect  of  the  British  for  his  military 
and  personal  merit.  His  funeral,  on  the  22d,  was  a 
very  imposing  ceremony,  and  he  was  buried  with  due 
honors  in  the  Lutheran  churchyard.  His  successor 
was  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Lowenstein. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


When  Sir  Henry  Clinton  went  south,  he  left  Lieut.- 
Gen.  v.  Knyphausen  in  command  in  New  York,  with 
the  two  South  German  and  the  Hessian  regiments  as 
part  of  his  garrison  of  6,000  men. 

The  winter  was  one  of  the  coldest  known,  the  ships 
were  frozen  fast,  the  garrison  reduced  to  3,500  men, 
in  order  to  strengthen  Clinton  by  reinforcements, 
and  Knyphausen  looked  for  an  attack,  as  Washing 
ton  was  at  Morristown. 

On  the  1 5th  of  January,  a  force  of  2,700  men, 
with  six  guns  and  two  mortars,  appeared  on  Long 
Island,  but  as  soon  as  Knyphausen  sent  600  men  to 
strengthen  the  force  there,  the  Americans  withdrew, 
carrying  off  600  head  of  cattle  and  burning  some 
houses. 

On  January  25th,  a  detachment  of  300  men,  under 
the  Hessian  Lieut.-Col.  Elbing,  went  from  New  York 
to  New  Jersey  and  captured  an  American  outpost 
and  a  herd  of  cattle. 

Knyphausen  now  determined  to  make  another 
attack,  and,  on  February  2d,  sent  two  companies  of 


190  The  German  Allies 

Hessians  and  some  Hessian  light  infantry,  as  part  of 
a  force,  into  Westchester  county  —  part  of  the  way 
on  sleighs.  The  deep  snow  delayed  the  march,  but 
the  American  outpost  was  captured,  after  a  sharp 
fight,  and  the  expedition  safely  returned  to  King's 
Bridge.  Knyphausen  made  a  full  report  to  Lord 
Germain  on  March  ayth. 

On  March  22d,  another  expedition,  with  Hessian 
and  Bayreuth  troops,  numbering  400  in  all,  with 
Capt.  v.  Tannenburg,  was  sent  to  Hackensack.  It 
crossed  the  Hudson  in  boats  and  moved  through  the 
woods  to  Hackensack,  but  the  garrison  having  been 
withdrawn,  the  town  was  given  over  to  plunder,  the 
court-house  and  some  of  the  best  private  residences 
burned,  when  an  American  force  of  500  or  600  men 
threatened  to  capture  the  invaders  and  their  booty, 
but  just  at  the  right  moment  Col.  Emmerich,  with 
his  volunteers,  400  strong,  appeared  and  protected 
the  expedition  on  its  retreat,  under  fire  for  six  hours, 
to  the  Hudson. 

Musketeer  Dohla  says  :  "  We  gathered  fine  plun 
der,  gold  and  silver  watches,  silver  forks  and  spoons, 
furniture,  good  clothes,  fine  English  linen,  silk  stock 
ings,  gloves  and  cravats,  with  other  silk,  woolen  and 
cotton  clothing.  My  own  booty,  which  I  brought 
safely  back,  consisted  of  two  silver  watches,  three 
necklaces  of  silver,  a  pair  of  women's  woolen  stock 
ings,  a  pair  of  men's  summer  stockings,  two  men's 
and  four  women's  shirts,  of  fine  English  linen,  two 
fine  table  cloths,  one  silver  tablespoon  and  one  silver 


In  the  American  Revolution.  191 

teaspoon,  five  Spanish  dollars  and  six  York  shillings. 
The  rest  —  eleven  yards  of  fine  linen,  two  dozen  silk 
handkerchiefs,  six  silver  spoons  and  a  silver  goblet, 
all  packed  up  —  I  had  to  throw  away  on  our  retreat, 
and  leave  for  the  enemy." 

The  picture  is  a  painful  one,  all  the  more  as  the 
German  discipline  was  much  stricter  than  the  Eng 
lish,  and  the  example  of  the  latter  soon  influenced 
their  allies  in  inflicting  such  personal  injuries  on  the 
Americans,  who  complained  of  them  as  robbery. 

Early  in  April,  a  detachment  of  100  Ansbach-Ba}'- 
reuth  soldiers  brought  in  a  number  of  head  of  cattle, 
with  hay  and  straw. 

Knyphausen  thus  deterred  the  Americans  from 
any  attack  in  force.  He  brought  the  sailors  from 
the  ships  into  the  city  to  do  garrison  duty,  and 
obliged  the  citizens  to  bear  arms  in  its  defense.  The 
six  wards  supplied  40  companies,  numbering  in  all 
2,660  men,  and  these  were  later  on  increased  to  62 
companies,  making  5,796  men.  The  Hessian  gene 
ral  was  thus  able  to  make  a  stout  defense,  and  won 
the  thanks  of  Clinton  on  his  return.  If  his  repu 
tation  must  suffer  from  the  well-grounded  charge  of 
allowing  his  men  to  plunder,  his  excuse  is  that  it  was 
done  by  order  of  the  British  commander. 

On  May  i5th,  the  companies  of  the  Knyphausen 
and  Lossberg  regiments  intended  for  Canada  were 
again  embarked.  The  Lossberg  detachment  con 
sisted  of  three  companies  —  those  of  Col.  v.  Loos, 
Lieut.-Col.  Schaffer,  and  Capt.  v.  Bockum.  The 


192  The  German  Allies 

Knyphausen  regiment  supplied  only  a  company  and 
a  half,  under  Col.  v.  Bork.  Although  in  the  reports 
from  Canada  they  were  spoken  of  as  regiments,  they 
were  really  not  even  battalions.  They  were  sent  on 
board  under  Col.  v.  Loos,  and  barely  escaped  a  repe 
tition  of  their  earlier  misfortunes.  The  fleet  of  30 
sail  was  again  driven  before  violent  storms  and  only 
reached  Quebec  on  the  25th  of  June. 

Gen.  v.  Knyphausen  was  constantly  in  receipt  of 
reports  of  the  growing  dissatisfaction  of  the  men  in 
Washington's  army  in  New  Jersey.  The  deserters 
coming  into  New  York  amounted  on  one  day  to  160, 
and  the  stream  was  a  steady  one — mostly  Pennsylva- 
nians  and  Jerseymen — who  reported  that  they  and 
their  comrades  were  ready  to  become  loyal  subjects 
again. 

Knyphausen  determined  to  make  a  demonstration 
in  the  rich  Jersey  country,  and  thus  to  quicken  its 
people  in  their  returning  loyalty.  He  organized  a 
force  of  6,000  men,  with  Hessian  and  Ansbach  sol 
diers  in  it,  leaving  the  Bayreuth  and  other  troops  in 
New  York.  Besides  his  other  German  soldiers,  he 
distributed  his  400  Yagers,  part  of  them  mounted, 
among  his  divisions.  His  corps  was  arranged  in 
three  divisions  —  in  the  first,  the  Guards,  the  Elec 
tor's  regiment ;  moving  out  on  the  night  of  the  6th, 
the  English  commander  was  wounded,  and  his  place 
taken  by  Lieut. -Col.  v.  Wurmb.  The  second  and 
third  divisions  followed  promptly,  but  the  Americans 
met  the  advance  and  on  the  yth  had  a  sharp  contest, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  193 

reported  by  Capt.  Grau  to  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  in  great 
detail  and  precision. 

Knyphausen  was  with  the  second  division,  and, 
while  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  third  division, 
sent  his  Hessians  and  other  German  forces  forward 
to  keep  the  Americans  engaged,  and  three  times 
driving  them  back.  Washington  sent  reinforce 
ments,  including  his  own  guard,  but  the  Germans, 
too,  were  promptly  strengthened  by  Knyphausen, 
with  the  Ansbach  regiment  and  some  guns,  when 
the  Americans  withdrew. 

Knyphausen  kept  on  until  he  was  near  Morris- 
town,  where  Washington  was  posted  with  his  main 
army,  and  then  withdrew  in  turn  and  went  into 
camp.  His  loss  had  been  heavy  —  300  dead  and 
wounded.  The  Guards  lost  Lieut.  Wiederhold,  and 
the  Hessians  lost  80  men.  Major  Seitz  and  Lieut. 
Ebenauer,  of  the  Bayreuth  Yagers,  were  killed,  and 
the  Ansbach  regiment  also  lost  sharply.  The  Ger 
man  Yagers  had  been  under  fire  for  twelve  hours  and 
used  up  all  their  ammunition.  Major  du  Puy,  of  the 
v.  Bose  regiment,  was  especially  commended  and 
received  a  decoration  from  his  prince  for  his  distin 
guished  gallantry. 

The  next  morning  (the  8th)  the  Americans  again 
attacked,  when  the  Hessians  in  three  lines  resisted 
stoutly,  the  first  line,  under  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Lossberg, 
advancing,  supported  by  the  second  line,  under  Maj.- 
Gen.  v.  Hachenberg,  until  the  enemy  withdrew. 

Knyphausen  was  quite  satisfied  that  he  was  mis- 
25 


194  The  German  Allies 

taken  in  his  opinion  of  the  spirit  of  the  American 
army,  and,  ceasing  further  hostile  demonstrations, 
went  into  camp. 

Ebenauer,  who  had  fallen  in  this  battle,  was  bnried 
at  Springfield,  where  Washington  paid  the  tribute  of 
his  respect  and  admiration  for  the  courage  shown  by 
this  officer,  and  ordered  a  suitable  interment  in  place 
of  the  hurried  burial  first  given  him. 

While  Knyphausen  was  in  New  Jersey,  Clinton 
returned,  on  the  lyth,  to  New  York,  and  sent  tjie 
Bayreuth  regiment  to  join  him.  It  was  put  in  the 
second  line,  on  the  right  wing.  The  troops  lay  about 
two  miles  from  Elizabethtown,  without  tents,  and 
were  soon  reinforced  by  cavalry  and  artillery.  So 
near  were  the  outposts,  that  one  night  an  American 
picket  came  over  in  a  body  —  an  officer  and  30  men. 

On  June  iQth,  Clinton  came  to  the  front,  inspected 
the  men,  and  ordered  Knyphausen  to  advance.  Mov 
ing  forward  the  next  morning,  through  Elizabeth, 
then  a  place  of  300  houses,  mostly  occupied  by  Qua 
kers,  he  captured  an  American  outpost,  with  three 
small  guns ;  then  pressing  on,  met  and  drove  a 
larger  force,  reaching  Springfield.  Here  Washing 
ton  had  posted  some  regular  troops  and  militia, 
under  shelter  of  orchards  and  outbuildings,  a  small 
creek  protecting  their  front.  They  opened  a  sharp 
fire,  and  Knyphausen  posted  six  twelve-pounders  on 
a  hill  to  drive  them  off,  but  Dohla  says  the  Ameri 
cans  did  not  yield  and  showed  a  braver  front  than  he 
had  ever  witnessed.  The  Bayreuth  regiment,  cover- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  195 

ing  the  right  flank,  made  a  bayonet  charge  and 
finally  drove  the  Americans  before  them. 

In  the  afternoon,  when  Knyphausen  wanted  to 
renew  the  attack,  the  Americans  were  advantage 
ously  posted  on  high  ground,  so  he  quietly  withdrew 
and  retreated  again,  setting  fire  to  Springfield  and 
letting  his  men  plunder  it,  meaning  to  cover  his 
retreat ;  but  it  was  done  before  the  eyes  of  the  Amer 
ican  soldiers,  and  so  excited  their  fury  that  they  pur 
sued  the  retreating  column  and  inflicted  heavy  losses. 
Of  the  Bayreuth  Yagers,  Capt.  v.  Roder  and  Lieut,  v. 
Diemar  were  mortally  wounded.  The  Hessian  and 
Ansbach-Bayreuth  Yagers  were  again  distinguished 
for  their  bravery  —  under  fire  for  six  hours,  covering 
the  retreat,  they  lost  a  seventh  of  the  whole  list  of 
casualties. 

The  retreat  made  a  march  of  twenty-two  miles, 
and  the  men  suffered  from  the  fierce  heat  and  hard 
ships.  Returned  to  camp,  where  the  v.  Huyne  and 
Ansbach  regiments  had  been  left,  they  were  soon 
called  to  arms,  and  again  left  the  camp,  marched  all 
night,  and  retreated  still  further,  to  avoid  an  attack 
by  Washington  reported  to  Knyphausen  by  his  spies 
and  confirmed  by  the  arrival  of  his  troops  in  the 
abandoned  camp.  The  galleons  lying  in  the  stream 
covered  with  their  fire  the  last  of  the  retreating 
troops  on  their  way  back  to  Staaten  Island. 

On  July  ist,  the  whole  army,  consisting  of  23 
regiments,  was  again  in  line  from  the  East  river  to 
the  Hudson. 


196  The  German  Allies 

Among  the  reinforcements  from  Europe,  there 
came  a  strong  body  of  volunteers,  830  men,  enlisted 
in  Hanau,  which  was  not  sent  to  join  the  other  Ha- 
nau  troops  in  Canada,  but  was  ordered  to  Clinton's 
army.  The  only  report  of  this  organization  is  in  the 
Casse i  Journal  of  1780.  It  was  apparently  attached 
to  Emmerich's  command,  and  is  referred  to  in  the 
Hessian  Army  Journal  as  a  "  volunteer  corps  "  at 
tached  to  the  other  Hessian  forces  sent  to  America 
by  the  Elector  and  Count  of  Hanau. 

Toward  the  end  of  July,  Clinton  organized  another 
strong  force  of  6,000  men  to  cut  off  the  French  divi 
sion  of  Rochambeau,  which  had  landed  in  Newport, 
Rhode  Island.  Admiral  Arbuthnot  was  to  support 
the  expedition  with  his  fleet.  Included  in  it  were 
the  Hessian  Guard  regiment,  the  Grenadier  battalion 
v.  Linsingen,  and  300  light  infantry,  under  Capt.  v. 
Priischenk. 

After  a  cruise  of  a  few  days  on  the  sound,  the  expe 
dition  was  abandoned,  partly  for  want  of  good  manage 
ment  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  partly  because  Wash 
ington  threatened  an  attack  at  King's  Bridge.  Knyp- 
hausen  at  once  moved  out  to  meet  it,  but  as  nothing 
was  done,  fell  back  within  the  entrenchments.  ' 

On  July  25th,  the  Hessian  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Huyne 
died,  in  New  York,  and  was  buried  there  with  mili 
tary  honors. 

The  Hessian  officers,  through  v.  Lossberg,  then 
commanding  in  New  York,  joined  in  expressing  their 
respect  for  Gen.  Patterson,  the  governor  of  New  York, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  197 

on  his  return  to  England  on  acconnt  of  his  health, 
and  he  returned  thanks,  with  especial  commendation 
of  the  Hessian  troops  under  his  command  at  various 
trying  times. 

During  October,  the  men  were  again  put  upon 
short  and  poor  rations,  until  the  fleet  arrived  in  No 
vember,  with  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions. 

On  October  i9th,  the  troops  again  went  into  their 
winter  quarters — the  Ansbach  regiment  in  Blooming- 
dale,  the  Bayreuth  regiment  in  New  York,  the  Guards 
in  Bloomingdale  and  Greenwich,  stretching  along  the 
Hudson  for  six  miles  in  scattered  houses.  The  Hes 
sian  Yagers  were  sent  to  Jericho,  on  Long  Island, 
furnishing  a  force  of  100  men  at  Morris  House,  on 
York  Island,  which  was  relieved  every  six  weeks, 
and  late  in  November  the  Ansbach  regiment  returned 
to  New  York. 

At  the  end  of  June  of  this  year,  a  number  of  pro 
motions  were  made  in  the  Hessian  corps — Maj.-Gen. 
v.  Mirbach  became  lieutenant-general ;  Cols.  v.  Gosen 
and  v.  Biesenroth  major-generals,  and  the  latter  suc 
ceeded  the  late  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Schmidt  as  chief  of  the 
Prince  Charles  regiment.  In  November,  Col.  v. 
Bischoffshausen  became  major-general  and  the  com 
mander  of  the  Guard  regiment ;  Col.  v.  Wurmb, 
major-general ;  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Schiiler,  colonel  of  the 
Ditfurth  regiment;  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Lossberg,  of  the 
Mirbach-  regiment ;  Major  Du  Puy,  of  the  v.  Bose 
regiment,  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel ; 
Lieut.-Col.  Kohler,  colonel  of  the  Second  Grenadier 


198  The  German  Allies 

battalion,  Angenelli ;  Major  v.  Ende  to  be  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Second  battalion  ;  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Schaf- 
fer,  colonel  of  the  Bunau  regiment.  Three  ser 
geants  and  one  ordinance  sergeant  were  promoted  to 
ensigns.  Captains  v.  d.  Malsburg  and  v.  Dinklage, 
whose  diaries  have  been  quoted  in  these  pages, 
became  majors;  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Knoblauch  got  the 
Wissenbach  regiment,  and  Col.  v.  Benning,  the 
Huyne  regiment.  In  the  early  part  of  the  next 
year,  Major-Generals  v.  Hachenberg,  v.  Bose  and 
v.  Lossberg  became  lieutenant-generals  ;  Lieut.-Col. 
v.  Heymel,  of  the  Knyphausen  regiment,  colonel  of 
the  Donop  regiment. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


Cornwallis,  at  the  close  of  1780,  prepared  a  plan 
for  an  expedition  into  North  Carolina,  as  soon  as 
reinforcements  came  from  the  north. 

On  December  i3th,  the  v.  Bose  regiment,  and  112 
Hessian  and  other  Yagers,  under  Capt.  v.  Roder, 
arrived  in  Charleston,  part  of  a  corps  of  1,500  men, 
under  Gen.  Leslie,  who  was  at  once  ordered  to  join 
Cornwallis,  in  North  Carolina. 

The  Americans,  under  Gen.  Morgan,  were  driven 
by  Col.  Tarleton,  but  the  latter  was  completely 
defeated  at  Cowpens,  a  victory  which  was  as  import 
ant  to  the  American  cause  in  the  south  as  Trenton 
had  been  in  the  north. 

Cornwallis  was  joined  by  Leslie  on  January  i8th, 
and  after  a  sharp  fight  at  the  crossing  of  the  Catawba, 
drove  the  Americans,  under  Greene,  out  of  North 
Carolina  into  Virginia,  and  then  at  Hillsborough 
issued  proclamations  inviting  the  royalists  to  come 
to  his  support. 

By  March  i4th,  Greene  had  returned  southward, 
with  reinforcements,  and  on  the  i5th  the  two  forces 
met,  near  Guilford. 


2oo  The  German  Allies 

The  British  advance,  under  Col.  Tarleton,  which 
included  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  Yagers,  the  light 
infantry  and  cavalry,  became  warmly  engaged,  and 
Cornwallis  brought  up  his  force  in  line  of  battle — on 
his  right  v.  Bose's  regiment ;  the  light  infantry  and 
the  Hessian  and  Ansbach  Yagers  were  on  the  left. 

Greene  had  posted  his  army  in  three  lines ;  the 
first  was  broken  by  a  bayonet  charge,  but  rallied  on 
the  second  under  cover  of  a  wood,  but  at  last  fell  back 
to  the  third. 

Leslie  put  the  Guards  battalion  on  his  right,  while 
the  light  infantry  and  German  Yagers  turned  the 
American  right.  The  Guards  battalion  broke  the 
American  lines,  but  pushed  too  far  forward,  and  in 
the  woods  could  not  use  the  bayonet,  and  were  soon 
under  a  heavy  fire  in  front  and  on  flank  —  and  broke 
in  disorder.  The  fire  on  the  left  and  center  was  very 
heavy,  and  the  v.  Bose  regiment,  under  Lieut.-Col. 
Du  Puy,  advanced  to  strengthen  the  British  line, 
which  rallied  on  it  and  moved  forward  again,  with 
the  Hessians,  to  renew  the  attack.  This  the  Ameri 
cans  could  not  stand,  but  pressing  forward,  the  Hes 
sians  were  attacked  in  the  rear  by  another  force,  and 
forming  front  to  meet  it,  they  were  faced  on  both 
sides  by  the  Americans  and  again  drove  them  off. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  the  v.  Bose  regiment, 
which  decided  the  favorable  issue  of  the  battle  for  the 
British,  was  recognized  by  the  English  generals,  and 
openly  praised  in  the  New  York  paper  and  by  the 
London  Gazette.  The  Elector  Friedrick  wrote,  on 


In  the  American  Revolution.  201 

September  i3th,  to  Gen.  v.  Knyphausen :  "I  have 
heard,  with  great  pleasure,  of  the  good  conduct  of  the 
v.  Bose  regiment,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Du  Puy,  and  of 
the  Yagers,  under  Capt.  Ewald,  and  request  you  to 
make  known  to  these  officers  and  their  commands 
my  satisfaction. " 

This  was  the  first  opportunity,  since  the  attack  on 
Fort  Montgomery,  that  the  regiment  had  to  show  its 
great  bravery.  The  Hessian  Yagers  showed  their 
accustomed  fearlessness.  The  v.  Bose  regiment  had 
heavy  losses  —  Capt.  v.  Wilmowsky  and  lyieut.  v. 
Trott  died,  Capt.  Eigenbrod,  Lieuts.  Schwaner  and 
Geyso  were  wounded.  The  sufferings  of  the  wounded 
left  on  the  battle-field  over  night  were  dreadful,  while 
the  pursuit  was  a  series  of  hardships  for  the  Hessian 
and  other  German  troops,  with  long  marches,  streams 
to  ford,  and  short  supplies. 

Cornwallis,  leaving  the  wounded  at  Wilmington, 
under  guard  of  the  Yagers,  fell  back  again  to  Vir 
ginia.  Meantime  Gen.  Arnold,  sailing  from  New 
York  on  December  i2th,  brought  a  force  of  1,400 
men,  including  125  Hessian  Yagers  under  Captain 
Ewald.  Heavy  storms  scattered  the  fleet,  which 
arrived  in  port  in  the  James  river  on  January  3d, 
where  they  seized  a  strong  battery  of  the  enemy  and 
silenced  the  guns.  On  the  9th,  the  other  vessels 
brought  the  rest  of  the  force. 

Cornwallis  had  ordered  Arnold  to  keep  open  his 
communication  with  the  sea,  and  to  call  on  the  loyal 
ists  to  support  him,  and  if  there  was  no  response,  to 
26 


2O2  The  German  Allies 

destroy  all  supplies  that  could  be  useful  to  the  ene 
my.  At  Richmond,  where  he  first  began  to  do  this, 
he  also  burned  or  plundered  all  shops  and  houses, 
thus  forfeiting  any  sympathy  he  might  have  hoped 
to  find  among  the  people. 

At  Fleur  de  Hundred  [Flourde  Hundret],  Baron 
Steuben  had  a  force  of  7,000  or  8,000  men,  to  bar 
the  way  to  Portsmouth.  Ewald,,  with  50  foot  Yagers 
and  three  companies  of  rangers,  drove  in  the  Amer 
ican  outpost,  and,  with  Simcoe's  cavalry,  forced  the 
advance  to  retreat,  and  then  entered  Portsmouth, 
the  chief  depot  of  supplies  of  the  American  army  in 
the  south.  The  Americans  made  frequent  attempts 
to  recover  it,  but  Ewald  was  always  on  his  guard, 
and  showed  such  watchfulness  and  energy  that  he 
not  only  kept  the  enemy  off,  but  also  captured  offi 
cers  with  despatches  of  great  value  to  Arnold. 

Ewald's  rule  was  always  to  attack,  and  in  his  book 
on  "  War,"  he  lays  it  down  as  a  maxim  that  when 
ever  the  enemy  is  met  at  night,  he  must  be  attacked 
at  once  and  followed  by  a  bayonet  charge,  so  that  the 
leader  of  the  advance  can  ascertain  the  strength  of 
the  enemy,  mask  his  own,  and  make  his  plans  for 
his  next  movement.  Ewald  pressed  on,  through  a 
country  so  marshy  that  it  was  thought  impractica 
ble,  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Americans  to  North 
Carolina,  and  succeeded  in  breaking  their  communi 
cations  southward. 

On  the  1 9th  of  March,  the  bravery  of  Capt.  Ewald 
and  his  men  was  put  to  a  sharp  test.  His  patrol  of 


In  the  American  Revolution.  203 

one  non-coinmissioned  officer  and  16  Yagers,  near 
Portsmouth,  was  met  by  Gen.  Lafayette,  with  800 
men,  on  a  reconnoisance.  Ewald  hnrried  up  with 
another  handful  of  16  Yagers,  and  posting  his  men 
so  as  to  command  the  narrow  breast  of  a  dam  which 
could  only  be  crossed  three  abreast,  urged  them  to 
stand  fast.  The  Americans  three  times  advanced  to 
the  attack,  in  column  300  strong,  and  were  every 
time  repulsed  by  the  33  Yagers,  and  finally  with 
drew,  by  order  of  Lafayette.  Ewald  was  wounded, 
with  many  of  his  little  band.  Arnold  had  not 
responded  to  the  call  for  support,  and,  angered  by 
Ewald's  reproaches,  did  not  even  mention  him  in  his 
report,  when  Ewald  protested  and  at  last  secured  due 
recognition  for  his  men. 

The  Hessians  were  largely  employed,  with  the 
other  troops,  in  the  ungrateful  task  of  destroying 
supplies,  but  on  April  25th  succeeded  in  defeating 
the  militia,  under  Gen.  Muhlenberg. 

In  May,  the  two  South  German  regiments  came 
from  New  York,  in  response  to  the  pressing  demand 
of  Cornwallis  for  reinforcements,  and  on  the  25th 
were  sent  to  Portsmouth,  to  join  the  Hessians. 

On  June  26th,  a  force  of  300  men,  Hessian  and 
Ansbach-Bayreuth  soldiers  making  part  of  it,  made  a 
march  of  30  miles,  attacked,  captured  and  destroyed 
an  American  outpost,  taking  prisoners,  guns  and 
supplies. 

Although  there  was  no  lack  of  food,  water  was 
scarce  and  bad,  rum  was  dear,  a  quart  costing  half 


2O4*  The  German  Allies 

a  Spanish  dollar,  and  to  make  a  circulating  medi 
um,  the  Spanish  dollars  were  cut  in  eight  pieces,  the 
pistareens  in  two  and  even  four  pieces. 

The  Virginians  showed  a  very  friendly  disposition 
toward  the  Germans. 

Cornwallis  moved  gradually  toward  the  coast,  to 
comply  with  Clinton's  orders  and  to  find  a  good  point 
to  keep  open  communication  with  him.  He  sent 
Ewald  with  his  Yagers,  strengthened  with  an  English 
Grenadier  company  and  a  company  of  rangers  and 
30  dragoons,  to  cover  his  left  flank,  as  he  moved 
across  the  peninsula  to  Williamsburg. 

The  whole  American  army  was  reported,  by  loyal 
sympathisers,  to  be  in  pursuit. 

Ewald  was  usually  on  his  guard  for  surprises,  and 
says  himself,  in  his  book,  "  On  the  Handling  of  Light 
Troops  "  :  "  We  were  never  more  than  a  few  miles 
from  our  own  main  army,  and  thought  these  reports 
mere  inventions,  intended  to  hurry  us  out  of  the 
country,"  and  Tarleton  was  reported  to  be  within  a 
short  distance  of  their  right,  when  Williamsburg 
was  near  at  hand.  As  all  danger  was  thought  to  be 
over,  the  march  was  stopped,  that  the  men  might 
rest;  the  1,200  captured  cattle  were  turned  out  to 
graze,  the  men  laid  aside  their  arms  and  went  into 
improvised  camps.  Ewald  led  the  advance,  but  no 
precautions  of  even  the  usual  kind  were  taken, 
beyond  putting  advance  posts  near  by  —  not  even 
patrols  sent  out. 

While  all  were  scattered,  there  was  a  sudden  sharp 


In  the  American  Revolution.  205 

report  of  firing  and  a  cry,  "  The  enemy  is  on  us." 
Ewald  threw  himself  on  horseback,  and  hurried  out 
in  the  direction  from  which  the  report  came,  where 
he  soon  met  a  strong  line  of  the  enemy's  infantry, 
moving  off  to  the  left.  Ewald  saw  that  this  was 
done  in  order  to  cut  off  the  roads  that  led  to  Williams- 
burg.  As  he  hurried  back,  a  French  officer  sum 
moned  him  to  surrender,  and  captured  his  orderly. 
Ewald  hurried  his  men  together  and  ordered  Lieut. 
Bickel  to  move  to  the  right  with  the  Yagers  and  fall 
on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy.  He  led  the  Grena 
diers  and  rangers  himself  and,  without  firing  a  shot, 
made  a  bayonet  charge  on  the  enemy,  while  Captain 
Schenk,  with  his  Hussars,  attacked  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  Lieut.  Bickel  got  on  their  left  flank,  and 
Sergeant  Sippel,  with  some  of  the  Yagers,  in  their 
rear. 

The  Americans  fell  back  into  the  woods,  and 
Ewald  captured  34  of  them,  with  a  small  loss  of  his 
own. 

This  was  the  last  serious  fight  of  the  Hessian  Ya 
gers  in  the  American  war.  From  that  time  on  it  was 
only  in  small  hand-to-hand  engagements,  on  outpost 
duty,  that  they  could  show  their  bravery  and  their 
skill  as  soldiers. 

Ewald  and  his  Yagers  had  won  the  respect  alike 
of  their  British  allies  and  their  American  enemies, 
not  only  for  their  courage,  but  for  their  discipline, 
their  coolness,  their  endurance  and  their  activity. 

In  spite  of  the  heat,  Cornwallis  left  Williamsburg 


206  The  German  Allies 

011  July  4th,  crossed  the  James  river  on  the  yth,  and 
took  position  at  Suffolk. 

Lafayette  had  heard  a  false  report  that  Cornwallis 
had  crossed  on  the  6th,  and  hurried  forward  with 
6,000  men  and  six  guns,  to  strike  his  rear,  and  reach 
ing  it  —  in  the  belief  that  the  larger  part  of  the  Brit 
ish  army  had  crossed  —  attacked  at  once. 

Cornwallis  took  v.  Bose's  regiment,  with  other 
troops,  and  repulsed  the  Americans,  who  lost  two 
guns  and  nearly  200  men,  and  Lafayette  soon  gave 
up  the  pursuit,  or  even  the  attempt  to  harass  the 
retreating  army. 

Ewald,  in  a  letter  to  General  v.  Riedesel,  dated 
Suffolk,  July  20,  1781,  speaks  of  the  heavy  loss 
from  bad  weather  and  hard  marching  and  fighting, 
mourns  the  wounding  of  Captain  Ran,  and  says  he 
himself  had  but  46  men  left  for  duty. 

On  July  1 6th,  all  but  two  of  the  regiments  left 
Portsmouth  and  came  by  water  to  Yorktown.  On 
the  2  Qth,  the  German  Yagers  were  brought  in  big 
boats,  and  on  the  3oth  were  sent  out  as  the  advance, 
guarding  both  banks  at  Gloucester. 

Yorktown  was  a  place  of  300  houses,  mostly  of 
brick,  many  of  them  in  ruins,  and  nearly  all  aban 
doned.  It  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the  York  river,  a 
wide  arm  of  Chesapeake  bay.  The  garrison  consisted 
of  300  militia,  which,  without  firing  a  shot,  withdrew 
to  Williamsburg,  16  miles.  The  harbor  was  deep 
and  two  miles  wide.  Opposite,  on  the  north  bank, 
was  the  little  village  of  Gloucester. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  207 

When  Cornwallis  came  to  Yorktown,  his  army 
was  reduced  to  the  Guards,  three  battalions  of  light 
infantry,  six  British  regiments  of  the  line,  a  regi 
ment  of  dragoons,  two  companies  of  British  artillery, 
a  corps  of  volunteers  from  South  Carolina,  six  com 
panies  of  American  rangers,  a  force  of  sappers,  and 
about  1,400  sailors.  His  German  troops  were  the 
two  Hessian  regiments,  the  v.  Bose  and  the  Crown 
Prince,  the  two  South  German  regiments,  their  artil 
lery,  and  the  Hessian  and  South  German  Yagers. 

On  August  29th,  the  lines  were  advanced  about  a 
thousand  paces,  and  strengthened  by  working  on 
them  day  and  night,  but  there  were  only  400  tools 
with  which  to  put  them  in  condition. 

On  August  3oth,  a  French  fleet  appeared,  and  on 
the  land  side  Washington  approached  with  his  army, 
including  Lafayette  and  a  French  corps. 

The  ships  in  the  harbor  were  unloaded  and  their 
lower  tier  of  guns  brought  on  shore  and  mounted  on 
the  defenses.  In  front  of  the  camp  and  the  lines,  all 
the  roads  were  blocked  and  covered  by  heavy  timber. 
The  heat  made  the  work  very  severe,  and  the  sup 
plies  were  scanty.  The  rations  were  bad  ship's 
stores  and  very  small.  Sickness  soon  ravaged  the 
force  with  dysentery  and  fever,  which  carried  off 
many  men.  Among  the  victims,  was  Lieutenant  v. 
Schuchardt,  of  the  Bayreuth  Grenadiers.  Heavy 
thunderstorms  and  violent  hurricanes  broke  over  the 
camp,  often  devastating  the  poor  quarters  of  the  men. 
The  French  fleet  was  lying  in  Chesapeake  bay. 


2o8  The  German  Allies 

In  September,  many  American  troops  came  from 
Baltimore,  and  trie  Americans  seized  a  picket  of  the 
Hessian  regiment  v.  Bose,  on  the  right  wing,  and 
then  withdrew  into  the  woods. 

On  the  28th,  the  whole  camp  was  in  alarm,  from  a 
strong  attack  of  the  American  forces.  Tents  were 
hastily  removed  and  all  the  baggage  taken  into  the 
town.  This  was  repeated  on  the  3oth,  and  some  30 
English  and  Hessians  were  killed  or  wonnded.  At 
night,  all  the  troops  in  the  camp  were  quietly  moved 
into  the  new  lines  thrown  tip  around  the  town. 

On  the  3oth,  the  Americans  stormed  for  three 
hours  a  redoubt  in  front  of  the  right  wing,  but 
by  help  of  a  frigate  lying  in  the  stream  were  driven 
back.  Among  the  attacking  party  were  French 
Grenadiers. 

On  October  ist,  the  Americans  began  to  build  reg 
ular  siege  wrorks,  but  had  no  guns  with  which  to  man 
them. 

Two  thousand  men  were  at  work  strengthening 
the  British  defenses.  Every  four  hours  the  com 
mands  in  the  trenches  were  relieved. 

On  the  2d,  the  Americans,  who  had  taken  posses 
sion  of  the  works  abandoned  by  the  English,  were 
heavily  cannonaded,  and  the  fire  was  kept  up  for  suc 
ceeding  days  with  bombs  and  solid  shot ;  this  was 
done  steadily  until  the  Qth,  but  without  any  return 
fire.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  first  cannon 
shot  on  their  side  came  from  a  battery  in  the  woods, 
opposite  the  right  wing ;  it  was  directed  at  a  redoubt 


In  the   American   Revolution.  209 

on  a  hill  near  the  river,  about  a  mile  from  the  lines. 
After  retreat,  the  fire  became  heavier,  and  a  frigate 
lying  in  the  harbor  was  set  on  fire  by  a  hot  shot. 

On  the  loth,  the  fire  of  the  besiegers  was  still 
heavier,  and  there  was  no  cover  that  could  withstand 
it  or  protect  the  troops.  The  last  of  the  inhabitants 
took  refuge  in  caves  dug  out  in  the  hills  near  the 
river,  but  these  were  soon  in  the  range  of  the  fire. 
The  camp  was  changed  and  the  tents  struck. 

On  the  nth,  the  fire  was  still  sharper,  and  3,600 
shots  from  the  besiegers  were  reported.  The  destruc 
tion  was  fearful,  ships  and  houses  were  struck,  dead 
bodies  and  wounded  men  were  seen  on  all  sides. 
Bombs  exploded  in  the  water,  spreading  the  alarm 
in  all  directions,  and  the  ground  trembled  as  with  an 
earthquake.  The  v.  Bose  regiment,  on  the  left  flank 
in  the  second  line,  was  the  most  exposed ;  balls  and 
bombs  fell  from  every  side,  and  it  had  daily  the  most 
dead  and  wounded.  The  Ansbach-Bayreuth  regi 
ment,  in  the  extreme  redoubt  of  the  left  wing,  was 
also  a  heavy  sufferer.  Bombs  falling  in  their  camp 
spread  destruction  far  and  wide.  To  get  forage  was 
difficult  and  dangerous,  and  the  German  Yagers  lost 
heavily  in  serving  as  escort.  Capt.  Ewald  showed 
his  ability  by  his  success  in  protecting  his  men  by 
all  sorts  of  expedients.  Ewald  led  an  advance  guard 
of  100  dragoons,  60  Yagers  and  some  rangers,  and 
by  moving  off  on  the  flank  of  the  column,  uncovered 
a  body  of  French  Hussars.  He  quietly  told  his  com 
mander  that  foraging  had  better  begin  here,  and  by 
27 


2io  The   German   Allies 

his  firmness  was  able  to  withstand  the  attack  of  the 
Due  de  Lauzun's  legion,  with  some  militia,  and 
Ewald,  as  rear  guard,  was  successful  in  protecting 
the  retreat  to  Gloucester. 

On  alternate  nights,  the  fire  relaxed  and  then  in 
creased.  The  besiegers  attacked  the  outer  redoubts, 
occupied  by  Hessian  and  British  troops,  and  under 
cover  of  a  heavy  fog  the  French  Grenadiers  made  a 
successful  breach  and  drove  the  defenders  out,  dis 
playing  the  French  flag  in  close  position  before  the 
weary  garrison.  The  whole  camp  was  alarmed,  and 
every  regiment  was  ordered  under  arms.  The  entire 
left  wing  began  to  fire,  out  of  zeal  and  curiosity,  to 
give  the  enemy  a  warm  reception,  and  with  no  great 
result. 

During  the  attack,  the  French  and  Americans 
resorted  to  a  clever  ruse  de  giierre,  giving  commands 
in  German  to  advance  the  whole  column  and  to  send 
the  batteries  to  the  front — trying  to  make  this  diver 
sion  appear  to  be  the  main  attack  in  force  on  the 
center  of  the  position. 

On  the  1 5th,  the  besieged  made  a  bold  dash  and 
captured  a  number  of  prisoners,  forcing  the  French 
supports  to  fly,  when  the  guns  were  silenced.  At 
night,  250  Ansbach-Bayreuth  soldiers  were  sent  to 
the  further  redoubt,  when  the  light  infantry,  which 
had  before  occupied  it,  were  sent  in  shallops  across 
to  Gloucester,  to  draw  the  fire  of  the  besiegers  on 
that  side. 

Cornwallis  thought  that  he  could  still  make  a  bold 


In  the  American  Revolution.  211 

sally  and  escape,  but  the  bad  weather  prevented  his 
sending  more  of  his  troops  across.  His  appeals  to 
Clinton  for  reinforcements  were  all  in  vain,  and  he 
saw  that  resistance  was  only  a  matter  of  endurance ; 
while  his  fire  was  maintained,  the  Americans  were 
steadily  pushing  their  lines  close  to  his  front. 

On  the  1 7th,  the  firing  opened  at  daybreak,  with 
increased  violence.  The  light  infantry  returned  from 
Gloucester,  with  the  report  that  it  was  hopeless  to 
try  to  break  through  in  that  direction,  as  the  Ameri 
cans  had  strengthened  and  extended  their  lines  on 
that  side,  and  a  cordon  of  French  Hussars  completed 
the  circle. 

Cornwallis  himself  came  to  the  front,  studied  the 
situation,  and  sent  a  white  flag  to  offer  terms  of  sur 
render.  A  second  and  a  third  were  sent  before  the 
firing  ceased,  thus  costing  many  lives  by  the  delay. 
The  men  began  to  destroy  their  tents  and  arms,  for 
they  knew  that  the  terms  of  surrender  must  be  hard 
ones.  While  the  negotiations  dragged  on,  a  powder 
magazine  exploded  in  the  town,  doing  great  damage 
and  costing  thirteen  lives. 

On  the  1 9th  of  October,  Cornwallis  surrendered 
his  whole  army  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  soldiers, 
as  one  of  them  wrote,  were  not  deprived  of  their 
effects,  and  were  treated  kindly  and  fairly,  according 
to  the  usages  of  war. 

The  fifth  article  of  the  surrender  provided  that  the 
soldiers  should  remain  in  Virginia,  Maryland  or 
Pennsylvania,  as  nearly  as  possible  in  regimental 


212  The  German  Allies 

organizations  —  receiving  trie  same  rations  as  the 
Continental  army.  An  officer  to  every  50  men,  of 
the  same  nationality — English,  Hessian  or  Ansbach 
— was  to  remain,  on  parole,  to  look  after  them,  and 
see  that  they  were  supplied  with  clothing  and  other 
necessaries. 

The  Crown  Prince  regiment  was  the  strongest, 
and  had  met  a  proportionate  loss.  The  Hessian  and 
Ansbach  Yagers  had  also  suffered  heavily.  Ewald 
had  only  one-sixth  of  his  original  strength.  Eight 
een  German  flags  and  eight  batteries  were  among 
the  spoils  that  fell  to  the  Americans. 

Cornwallis  had  hardly  4,000  men  capable  of  bear 
ing  arms,  and  he  reported  to  Clinton  that  the  Amer 
icans  had  8,000  French,  as  many  Continentals,  and 
5,000  militia. 

Just  as  Burgoyne's  surrender  largely  secured  to 
the  Americans  their  French  allies,  so  that  of  Lord 
Cornwallis  was  mainly  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  the  recognition  of  American  independence, 
and  Yorktown  was  the  only  great  action  in  which 
the  French  had  taken  an  important  share. 

When  the  garrison  marched  out,  past  the  Ameri 
can  and  French  armies,  the  latter  were  commanded 
by  Rocharnbeau,  who  was  surrounded  by  Lafayette, 
the  Prince  of  Saarbruck-Zweibriicken  [Deux  Ponts], 
and  the  Prince  de  Lauzun,  all  in  full  uniform,  with 
their  decorations.  On  the  right  of  each  French  reg 
iment  was  their  white  flag  with  the  lilies.  Among 
the  French  troops  were  some  Alsace  regiments.  In 


In  the  American  Revolution.  213 

i 
front  of  the  Americans    stood  Washington,   Gates, 

Greene  and  Wayne. 

"  The  prisoners,"  says  one  of  them,  Dohla,  in  his 
diary,  "  looked  with  wonder  on  the  great  force  of  the 
enemy,  and  they  saw,  with  equal  wonder,  the  weak 
ness  of  our  force,  a  mere  handful  —  not  more  than 
one  of  their  daily  guard  mountings." 

Dohla  describes  the  circle  of  French  Hussars  into 
which  the  prisoners  marched  to  surrender  their  arms, 
and  the  touching  sight  of  Col.  v.  Seyboth  leading  his 
men,  he  and  they  all  crying  at  the  loss  of  their 
weapons. 

An  officer  says  the  grief  and  suppressed  rage  of 
the  old  soldiers,  thus  yielding  to  those  who  had  been 
looked  on  as  shopkeepers  and  farmers,  was  hard  to 
realize.  One  old  soldier  wept  like  a  child ;  a  corpo 
ral  kissed  his  gun,  then  threw  it  down  and  cried  out, 
"  You  can  never  have  as  good  a  master  as  I  was." 
But  he  also  credits  the  Americans  with  great  good 
feeling,  while  the  French,  if  more  soldierly,  were 
noisier  and  vainer. 

Officers  were  allowed  to  retain  their  swords,  at  the 
request  of  the  French  generals  ;  who  also  commended 
the  South  German  regiments  as  the  best. 

The  prisoners  were  allowed  every  reasonable  lib 
erty,  under  guard  of  the  French,  who  were  very 
friendly.  The  Americans  were  not  allowed  to  go 
into  the  town,  lest  the  militia  might  abuse  their 
captives. 

On  the   evening  of  October   iQth,   the  Bayreuth 


214  The  German  Allies 

Yager  Lieutenant  v.  Hayden,  with  16  men  of  his 
regiment,  arrived,  the  only  ones  left  of  a  command 
of  a  i  ,000  that  had  started  from  South  Carolina  for 
Yorktown,  and  between  Hampton  and  Williamsburg 
had  been  scattered  by  a  strong  hostile  corps,  after  a 
sharp  resistance. 

The  troops  had  abundant  supplies,  during  the 
siege,  both  the  reserves  and  the  garrison,  and  for 
fourteen  days  an  addition  to  their  daily  rations  of 
sugar,  chocolate  and  cocoa,  just  landed  from  a  Dutch 
merchantman,  captured  and  brought  into  Yorktown 
by  an  English  ship. 

Of  the  Hessians  and  Ansbach-Bayreuth  soldiers, 
only  85  men  deserted. 

The  spoils  included  over  ^5,000  sterling  in  the 
military  chest  of  the  English,  and  191  guns  and  82 
vessels  were  taken. 

The  prisoners  marched  slowly  to  Williamsburg, 
then  to  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  passing  many 
homes  of  German  settlers  —  then  on  to  Frederick, 
Maryland,  where  the  two  Hessian  regiments  and 
the  Bayreuth  Yagers  were  quartered. 

Early  in  November,  the  other  troops  reached  Win 
chester,  under  an  escort  commanded  by  Gen.  Muhlen- 
berg,  who  was  very  considerate  of  the  comfort  of  the 
German  prisoners ;  but,  as  an  officer  wrote,  the  quar 
ters  gave  poor  hope  of  a  comfortable  winter — wretched 
huts  of  wood  and  canvass,  with  no  roofs  and  no  beds, 
miserable  chimneys,  neither  doors  nor  windows,  and 
in  a  thick  wood.  The  soldiers  were  crowded  close 


In  the  American  Revolution.  215 

together,  20  to  30  men  in  one  hut  —  worse  than  the 
pigsties  or  dog  houses  in  their  German  homes. 

Some  of  the  men  were  at  once  allowed  to  go  to 
work  for  the  neighboring  farmers,  thus  earning  com 
fortable  quarters,  good  living  and  suitable  clothing, 
while  those  who  remained  in  the  barracks  had  little 
of  any  of  the  good  things  promised  at  the  surrender. 
With  money  or  with  articles  of  value  the  soldiers 
could  get  something  —  and  Major  v.  Beust  borrowed 
money  for  his  men,  at  a  high  rate  of  interest,  from  a 
merchant  in  Winchester,  on  his  personal  pledge  and 
security. 

The  sick  and  wounded  slowly  gathered  again  at 
Winchester,  complaining  that  the  Americans  had 
kept  none  of  their  promises  to  care  for  them,  and 
their  sufferings  and  distress  were  of  the  most  har 
rowing  kind.  Those  who  died  soon  were  the  most 
fortunate. 

Congress  ordered  the  troops  to  Frederick,  Mary 
land,  to  the  great  dissatisfaction  of  the  Virginia  far 
mers,  who  lost  their  cheap  supply  of  labor  in  the 
German  soldiers,  but  the  Germans  were  glad  to  get 
away  from  such  hard  masters. 

On  the  march  through  Maryland,  the  German  set 
tlers  showed  them  much  kindness,  and  German 
speech  and  friendly  hospitality  gave  them  great  com 
fort.  Their  food,  too,  improved,  and  their  quarters 
were  two  barracks,  with  100  huts,  built  by  the  Eng 
lish,  while  nearly  all  the  farmers  around  were  Ger 
mans —  Swabians.  The  troops  formerly  quartered 


216  The  German  Allies 

there  were  sent  to  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  The 
two  Hessian  regiments,  the  Crown  Prince  and  v. 
Bose,  were  quartered  in  the  Poor  House,  and  made 
fairly  comfortable. 

By  the  end  of  February,  provisions  ran  short,  and 
the  officers  bought  supplies  out  of  their  own  means, 
and  again  in  March  gave  each  man  a  Spanish  dollar 
to  help  him  buy  food.  Dohla  complains  of  the  bad 
food  and  the  utter  want  of  clothing. 

It  was  not  until  late  in  April,  that  the  baggage 
arrived  from  New  York  —  and  each  man  got  a  new 
ribbon  for  his  queue,  that  he  might  keep  that  in 
order. 

In  May,  the  money  due  from  November  to  March 
was  paid,  and  each  man  received  ten  Spanish  dollars, 
and  with  this  and  the  warm  weather,  the  prisoners 
were  more  comfortable. 

Through  death,  sickness  and  desertion,  the  regi 
ments  were  greatly  reduced.  In  one  night  20  men 
escaped,  but  13  were  brought  back  by  an  American 
patrol.  Most  of  them  left  to  escape  their  weary 
detention,  hoping  to  get  to  New  York  or  some  other 
point,  where  they  could  rejoin  the  German  forces. 
The  militia  revenged  themselves  by  firing  on  and 
wounding  the  prisoners,  and  a  Bayreuth  soldier  was 
one  of  the  victims. 

On  September  ist,  Congress  ordered  all  the  men 
of  Cornwallis'  and  Burgoyne's  armies,  at  work  on 
the  farms,  to  report  at  Frederick.  Some  of  them 
had  become  owners  of  their  farms  and  were  married. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  217 

These  were  allowed  to  ransom  themselves  for  a  fixed 
sum  —  about  80  Spanish  dollars.  Those  who  could 
not  raise  that  amount,  usually  found  Americans  to 
advance  it,  and  agreed  to  return  it  in  labor  for  a  fixed 
term.  These  were  called  "  Redemptioners,"  and 
their  bargains  had  a  sort  of  legal  sanction,  were 
made  public  at  church,  and  generally  acknowledged 
as  binding. 

The  Americans  began  openly  to  recruit  enlist 
ments  among  the  prisoners,  going  into  the  barracks, 
promising  30  Spanish  dollars,  hard  money,  of  which 
eight  dollars  was  paid  down,  the  rest  when  the  recruit 
joined  his  regiment.  But  few  of  the  Germans  were 
tempted,  even  when  the  recruiting  officers  brought 
music  and  loose  women  and  liquor,  with  which  to 
induce  the  men  to  abandon  their  colors  and  join  the 
American  army. 

Now  and  then  German  settlers  came  forward  to 
relieve  their  own  kinsfolk  by  paying  for  their  release 
from  imprisonment,  and  this  soon  became  an  active 
means  for  lessening  their  number. 

In  September,  300  English  prisoners  of  Cornwal- 
lis'  army  came  to  Frederick  from  Winchester,  under 
an  escort  of  an  American  volunteer  corps,  made  up 
of  all  nationalities,  among  them  40  Ansbach-Bay- 
reuth  soldiers,  who  had  been  released  from  imprison 
ment  in  Virginia  and  had  then  volunteered  for  the 
American  army. 

In  March,  1783,  the  first  news  of  peace  reached  the 
camp,  and  gave  rise  to  great  rejoicing,  in  the  hope  of 
28 


2i8  The  German  Allies 

early  release.  An  express  rider  brought  the  official 
announcement  from  Congress,  in  Philadelphia. 

Later  on,  the  rest  of  the  long-delayed  baggage 
came  to  hand  and,  on  April  ist,  the  four  German 
regiments  received  their  arrears  of  pay. 

On  the  22d,  General  Lincoln  made  official  procla 
mation  of  peace,  and  it  was  celebrated  by  a  patriotic 
demonstration,  day  and  night.  The  fireworks  for  the 
night's  display  were  prepared  by  Captain  Hofmann, 
of  the  Bayreuth  artillery,  and  his  men  ;  the  German 
musicians  played  at  the  ball  given  in  honor  of  the 
occasion,  and  many  of  the  German  officers  were 
guests  at  all  the  festivities. 

In  camp  there  was  great  rejoicing,  too,  but  when 
the  men  cheered  for  King  George,  a  French  captain, 
in  charge,  attacked  them  and  mortally  wounded  four 
of  the  German  soldiers. 


The  Waldeck  regiment  went  further  south  than 
any  of  the  other  German  troops.  It  was  sent  to  fight 
the  Spaniards  in  Florida,  as  part  of  the  reinforce 
ments  sent  by  Clinton  to  Pensacola  at  the  end  of 
1778.  With  them  were  the  Provincial  Loyalists,  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  —  making  in  all  a  force 
of  1,200  men,  to  cooperate  with  ten  English  and  two 
German  regiments  in  the  southern  provinces. 

On  October  2oth,  just  two  years  from  their  arrival 
in  America,  and  a  year  from  their  hard  experiences 


In  the   American   Revolution.  219 

on  the  Hudson  river,  four  vessels  were  assigned  to 
the  Waldeck  regiment,  part  of  a  fleet  of  70  sail, 
under  the  escort  of  Commodore  Hotham,  in  the  Pres 
ton,  a  yogun  man-of-war.  After  a  sharp  storm,  the 
fleet  separated,  part  carrying  soldiers  and  supplies  to 
Barbadoes  and  Carolina,  the  other  to  Jamaica.  On 
the  way  there  were  a  number  of  privateers  and  cruis 
ers  ;  one  was  taken,  but  none  of  them  attacked  the 
men-of-war. 

In  Jamaica,  the  Germans  saw  all  the  wealth  of 
tropical  nature — an  earthly  paradise,  after  their  long 
sea  voyage.  The  Waldeck  regimental  chaplain  bap 
tized  three  soldiers'  children  born  on  shipboard  —  for 
the  soldiers'  wives  accompanied  them  ;  in  one  vessel 
there  were  four  of  them  with  children. 

On  December  3ist,  the  fleet  again  set  sail,  and 
after  3,500  miles  of  sea  voyage,  finally  reached  Pen- 
sacola,  then  a  poor  village  of  200  scattered  houses, 
mostly  of  wood,  with  no  trace  of  early  Spanish  set 
tlement,  other  than  the  old  stone  powder  magazine. 
The  defenses  on  the  sea  side  were  sand  heaps  ;  on  the 
land  side,  palisades.  Near  the  town  grew  great  for 
ests,  in  which  it  was  said  there  were  wild  animals — 
bears,  tigers,  panthers,  alligators  and  other  dangerous 
creatures,  as  well  as  savage  Indians.  Wild  game  was 
plentiful,  but  of  the  elements  of  civilization  little  was 
heard.  The  only  English  clergyman  was  at  Mobile. 
Baptism  was  given  only  on  convenient  occasions,  and 
the  Waldeck  chaplain  baptized  a  child  of  eight  years 
of  age. 


220  The   German    Allies 

From  Georgia  to  Pensacola  was  a  four  weeks'  jour 
ney,  and  the  traveler  had  to  supply  tents,  axes,  cov 
ers,  and  means  of  living,  for  there  was  not  a  single 
human  habitation  to  be  found  on  the  way. 

The  Indians  were  said  to  be  very  numerous  —  one 
tribe  of  20,000  men  was  on  friendly  terms  with  the 
English.  Steurnagel,  in  his  diary,  describes  them  as 
fearful  in  war,  always  killing  their  prisoners,  reveng 
ing  blood  for  blood,  and  skillful  in  the  use  of  their 
weapons.  The  women  accompanied  them  to  battle, 
and  sang  warlike  songs  to  encourage  the  braves. 
Scalps  were  a  regular  article  of  sale,  ^3  sterling 
being  the  fixed  market  price. 

Among  these  savages,  to  their  great  surprise,  the 
Waldeck  soldiers  found  a  countryman,  from  one  of 
their  own  villages,  Konigshagen ;  he  had  deserted 
from  the  army  as  a  youth,  and  finally  joined  the 
Indians,  serving  as  interpreter — his  name  was  Bran 
denburg,  and  he  was  as  little  of  a  Christian  as  his 
Indian  comrades. 

The  troops  were  put  to  work  to  restore  the  old 
Spanish  defenses,  and  owing  to  the  intense  heat,  they 
worked  at  night ;  patrols  were  sent  out  as  far  as  the 
MiSvSissippi. 

On  the  western  coast  there  was  a  force  of  only  500 
men,  and  the  Waldeck  Grenadiers  were  sent  to  rein 
force  them  at  Baton  Rouge,  and  they  in  turn  were 
followed  by  a  company  under  Major  v.  Horn  and  15 
men  of  that  of  Col.  v.  Hanxleden  and  the  company 
of  Capt.  Alberti. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  221 

The  Creek  and  Choctaw  Indians  came  to  Pensacola 
as  allies,  the  former  —  women  as  well  as  men  —  well 
motmted  and  strong  and  good-natured. 

In  August,  Don  Bernardo  Galvez,  the  Spanish  gov 
ernor  of  Louisiana,  made  public  proclamation  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States,  and  formally 
declared  war  against  the  British.  His  force  consisted 
of  2,000  men,  against  which  the  British  had  but 
small  opportunity  to  prepare. 

The  Waldeck  troops,  under  Capt.  v.  Hacke,  were 
at  Baton  Rouge,  but  the  Spaniards  seized  a  British 
vessel  on  the  Mississippi,  carrying  Capt.  Alberti's 
company,  54  men  and  officers. 

The  Spaniards  attacked  the  fort  at  Pensacola,  but 
were  twice  repulsed,  with  heavy  loss,  and  then  offered 
terms  of  capitulation,  very  favorable  to  the  gallantry 
of  the  defenders,  which  were  accepted. 

The  Waldeckers  lost  Ensign  Noltin,  Lieut.  Leon- 
hardi,  who  had  distinguished  himself  at  the  storming 
of  Fort  Washington,  and  22  men,  besides  a  number 
wounded,  and  surrendered  over  200  officers  and  men. 

The  news  of .  the  capture  of  Mobile  was  soon 
brought  to  Pensacola,  but  was  received 'as  a  trick  of 
the  enemy  to  induce  the  garrison  to  leave  that  post 
and  risk  a  battle  in  the  open. 

Chaplain  Waldeck  mentions,  in  his  diary,  the  diffi 
culty  of  ascertaining  the  truth  and  the  uncertainty 
of  knowing  what  to  do. 

Finally,  it  was  decided  to  remain  in  Pensacola  — 
and  a  fearful  storm  and  an  earthquake  made  their 


222  The  German  Allies 

situation  more  desperate,  while  the  scanty  supplies 
told  011  the  strength  of  the  little  force. 

On  March  5th,  1780,  the  Waldeck  force  was  part 
of  an  expedition  sent  to  relieve  Mobile,  hard  pressed 
by  the  Spaniards,  and  was  followed  by  the  Pennsyl 
vania  Loyalists  and  some  artillery.  It  was  a  march 
of  120  miles,  through  an  uninhabited  wilderness,  and 
all  in  vain — Mobile  had  surrendered,  and  the  expedi 
tion  returned  on  the  iQth,  after  a  trying  march. 

On  March  27th,  the  Spanish  fleet  came  in  sight, 
21  sail,  and  next  day  it  anchored  off  Pensacola.  The 
Waldeck  regiment  went  to  Fort  George,  and  all  prep 
aration  was  made  for  a  siege,  when  the  fleet  sailed 
away  on  the  3Oth.  The  Waldeck  force,  under  Col. 
v.  Hanxleden,  was  strengthened  by  the  Maryland 
Loyalists,  two  companies. 

On  April  9th,  Lieut. -Col.  v.  Horn  arrived,  with  his 
two  sons  and  a  small  body  of  twenty  recruits  —  the}^ 
had  been  a  year  on  the  way  from  Waldeck. 

The  Chickasaw  and  other  Indians  came  in  large 
numbers,  but  they  were  useless  allies,  eating  and 
drinking  to  excess,  and  doing  no  work,  while  the 
German  and  English  soldiers  were  worn  out  with 
their  labor  on  the  new  defenses  —  a  new  fort  was 
called  Fort  Waldeck. 

The  Spaniards  crossed  the  Perdido,  but  were  driven 
back  by  the  Indians,  who  stoutly  refused  to  join  Gal- 
vez,  although  he  had  enlisted  the  help  of  a  good 
many  of  the  native  tribes  by  his  liberal  offers. 

Chaplain  Waldeck  reports  the  greatest  difficulty 


In  the  American  Revolution.  223 

as  to  supplies  of  food — bread  and  water  for  breakfast, 
water  at  dinner,  a  pipe  of  tobacco  and  more  water  for 
supper.  Sausages  cost  $7.00,  a  pound  of  tobacco 
$4.00,  of  coffee  $1.00,  a  pint  of  brandy  eight  hard 
shillings,  rum  was  a  forgotten  luxury,  and  the  In 
dians,  in  searching  for  it,  plundered  the  scattered 
British  settlers,  pretending  that  they  took  them  for 
Spaniards. 

Fortune  favored  the  British,  as  their  ships  brought 
in  some  Spanish  merchantmen,  with  rum,  meal,  cof 
fee,  sugar  and  other  welcome  commodities,  and  a 
vessel  loaded  with  powder  was  also  captured. 

On  November  iQth,  Major  Pentzel  was  sent,  with 
50  Waldeckers,  to  the  Cliffs,  a  new  post  at  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor,  and  on  January  3d,  1781, 
Col.  v.  Hanxelden  was  sent  to  French  Village,  on 
the  Mississippi,  with  some  men  of  his  own  regiment 
and  300  Indians  and  other  troops,  to  drive  the  Span 
iards  out  of  their  works.  On  the  7th,  he  reached  the 
place  and  made  an  attack,  the  Germans  charging  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet,  but,  without  support  from 
the  Indians,  they  were  obliged  to  withdraw,  leaving 
their  brave  colonel  and  Lieut.  Stirlin  dead,  and  Lieut. 
Baumbach  wounded. 

The  Spaniards  honored  the  grave  of  the  heroic 
commander,  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  his  gallantry. 

On  March  9th,  the  Spanish  fleet  again  arrived  at 
Pensacola,  with  six  times  the  strength  of  the  defense, 
(not  over  a  thousand  men),  besides  heavy  guns  and 
all  the  means  of  a  regular  siege. 


224  The  German  Allies 

A  shallop  sent  out  by  the  British  man-of-war  Men 
tor  captured  a  Spanish  vessel  from  Mobile,  with  the 
baggage  and  effects  of  the  Spanish  general,  and 
$20,000  in  hard  money,  his  fine  silver  table  service, 
fine  wines,  and  all  the  utensils  of  a  good  kitchen. 

On  the  nth,  the  Spanish  opened  fire  on  Pensacola, 
and  on  the  iSth  the  fleet  sailed  into  the  harbor,  and 
on  the  23d  was  reinforced  by  16  vessels,  with  troops 
from  Havannah,  but  their  first  attempt  at  landing 
was  repelled,  and  even  when  a  counter-attack  was 
betrayed  by  a  catholic  Waldeck  corporal,  who 
deserted  and  gave  notice,  the  Spaniards  were  driven 
out  of  their  works  by  the  Waldeck  troops. 

The  news  of  the  capture  of  Charleston  was  cele 
brated  in  Pensacola,  which  was  soon  itself  exposed 
to  a  continuous  fire  until  early  in  May.  Bven  then 
treachery  helped  the  Spaniards,  for  a  Provincial  offi 
cer,  who  had  been  broken  and  driven  out  of  the 
camp,  deserted  to  the  enemy  and  gave  them  informa 
tion  where  to  direct  their  fire ;  it  soon  exploded  a 
powder  magazine,  costing  52  lives  and  wounding 
many  more,  and  utterly  destroying  the  works. 

The  Spaniards  pushed  forward  in  such  strength 
that  no  further  resistance  was  possible,  and  favorable 
terms  of  surrender  were  accepted. 

The  defenders  marched  out  with  the  honors  of 
war,  the  officers  retaining  their  swords,  and  the 
whole  force  to  be  sent  by  the  Spaniards  to  a  British 
harbor,  on  parole  not  to  serve  against  Spain  until 
exchanged ;  the  sick  and  wounded  to  be  cared  for 


In  the  American  Revolution.  225 

until  they,  too,  could  be  sent  away.  New  York  was 
the  designated  harbor. 

On  June  4th,  the  troops  were  put  on  shipboard, 
and  reached  New  York  at  the  end  of  the  month. 
The  Waldeck  troops,  with  Captains  v.  Hacke  and 
Alberti  and  Lieutenants  Strubberg  and  Brunhardt, 
also  returned  from  their  captivity.  They  had  lost 
more  men  by  disease  than  in  battle,  among  them 
Lieut,  v.  Goren  and  Lieut.  Alberti,  who  died  in  New 
Orleans  in  July. 

Steuernagel,  in  his  diary,  says  that  Pensacola  was 
defended  by  600  men  against  22,000,  but  the  actual 
disproportion  was  large  enough  —  800  to  15,000. 


The  war  in  1781  was  slowly  waged  in  the  northern 
provinces.    The  reinforcements  for  the  German  forces 
arrived  in  due  time.      In  the  beginning  of  March, 
300  men  came  for  the  Ansbach-Bayreuth  regiments, 
under  Col.  v.  Schlammersdorf,  of  the  Guards  ;  they 
came  down  the  Main  to  Han  an,  where  they  were 
joined  by  the  Hanau  troops,  and  later  by  those  from 
Hesse   Cassel ;    those    from    Anhalt-Zerbst   went   to 
Wangeroge,  a  little  island  at  the  mouth  of  the  We- 
ser,  under  Gen.  v.  Rauchhaupt,  to  avoid  desertions— 
and   thence  under  Brigade-Major  v.  Weitersheim— 
making  in  all  2,988  men ;    finally  arriving  in  New 
York  in  August. 
29 


226  The  German  Allies 

Clinton,  who  had  barely  escaped  capture  early  in 
January,  1781,  was  persuaded  to  listen  to  a  report 
that  800  men  in  the  American  force  at  Amboy  would 
desert,  if  protected,  and  sent  2,000  men,  including 
the  v.  Linsingen  Grenadier  battalion,  a  company  of 
Hessian  Yagers,  and  other  troops ;  but  fortunately 
the  deception  was  discovered  and  the  men  brought 
back  to  their  old  posts. 

General  v.  Knyphausen  had  offered  pardon  to 
all  deserters  returning  to  their  colors,  and  many 
accepted  it,  complaining  of  hard  usage  with  their 
temporary  employers  and  in  the  American  army. 

Clinton  gave  two  guineas,  out  of  his  pocket,  to  two 
brothers  of  the  Ansbach  regiment,  who  had  deserted 
and  now  returned. 

The  force  in  New  York  was  so  reduced  that  it 
could  do  little,  but  Washington  kept  it  on  the  alert, 
and  it  was  obliged  to  be  vigilant  and  watchful. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel,  then  in  command  at  Brooklyn, 
wrote  to  the  Duke  of  Brunswick,  on  June  26th,  1781, 
a  report  that  showed  that  he  understood  the  real  plan 
of  Washington  better  than  the  British  commander, 
who  was  thus  led  to  sacrifice  his  best  troops,  German 
and  English,  at  Yorktown.  Riedesel  was  satisfied 
that  the  English  ministry  failed  to  appreciate  the 
important  help  the  Americans  were  getting  from 
France,  and  that  Washington  was  planning,  by  their 
help,  to  secure  a  victory  that  would  help  to  bring  the 
war  to  an  end,  while  Clinton  and  Cornwallis  were 
disputing  over  their  plans  and  failing  to  use  their 


In  the  American  Revolution.  227 

force  or  the  fleet  to  the  best  advantage  in  united 
operations. 

Washington,  with  the  French  reinforcements  from 
Rhode  Island,  had  over  12,000  men.  He  threatened 
Clinton,  so  as  to  prevent  him  from  sending  reinforce 
ments  to  Virginia,  and  meant  to  inflict  heavy  pun 
ishment  on  DeLancey's  Loyalists.  He  therefore 
ordered  800  infantry  and  300  cavalry,  of  his  best 
troops,  to  move  towards  King's  Bridge  and  attack 
DeLancey. 

By  accident,  Clinton  had  ordered  an  attack  for  the 
same  time,  the  2d  and  3d  of  July,  on  the  American 
outpost  at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  and  to  gather  all  the  sup 
plies  in  reach,  sending  200  wagons  there  to  carry 
them  off,  and  to  protect  them,  200  Hessian  Yagers 
on  foot  and  30  mounted,  under  Capt.  Priischenk ; 
Col.  Emmerich,  with  100  men,  was  to  go  in  advance 
and,  when  the  Americans  attacked,  to  strike  them  in 
the  rear. 

Late  at  night,  Clinton  got  news  that  the  Ameri 
cans  were  in  motion,  and  that  Capt.  Rau,  the  leader 
of  a  Yager  patrol,  had  been  killed  by  the  advancing 
enemy.  Clinton  recalled  the  whole  expedition.  Col. 
v.  Wurmb  sent  back  Capt.  Priischenk  and  his  Ya 
gers,  and  ordered  him  to  recall  Col.  Emmerich,  or  to 
go  to  his  support,  if  he  was  already  engaged.  As  the 
advance,  under  Lieut.  Schaifer,  reached  Fort  Inde 
pendence,  he  saw  nothing  of  the  enemy,  and  so 
reported  to  Priischenk. 

As  a  further  precaution,  a  detachment  of  18  Ya- 


228  The  German  Allies 

gers,  under  Sergeant  Rubenkonig,  an  old  soldier, 
was  sent  out  on  the  right  flank  to  observe.  There 
he  met  a  small  bod}^  moving  up  and  down  ;  taking 
them  for  DeLancey's  or  Emmerich's  men,  he  spoke 
to  them,  and  was  at  once  seized  and  threatened  with 
death  if  he  spoke ;  but  he  cried  out,  warning  his 
men  that  the  enemy  were  near  by,  and  in  the  firing, 
escaped  and  returned  safely.  Col.  v.  Wurmb  espe 
cially  recommended  him  for  promotion,  but  the  close 
of  the  war  cut  off  his  due  re\v.ard.:;: 

Lieut.  Schaffer,  too,  was  soon  under  fire  and  lost 
many  of  his  men,  and  Capt.  Priischenk  found  the 
enemy  in  much  greater  strength  than  his  own,  and 
to  cover  his  retreat,  sent  Lieut.  Fliess,  with  30  Ya 
gers,  to  attack  in  close  order,  thus  gaining  time  for 
his  main  body,  while  the  Americans  were  for  a  time 
stopped  by  the  bold  bayonet  charge  of  the  little  band, 
which  was  able  to  get  off,  too,  with  no  great  loss. 

Col.  v.  Wurmb  came  out  with  the  rest  of  the  Ya 
gers  and,  although  much  inferior  in  numbers,  even 
with  the  reinforcement  of  the  loyalists  and  200  men 
from  the  defenses  at  Kingsbridge,  attacked  the  strong 
line  of  the  Americans  and  thus  freed  Emmerich,  who 
had  been  cut  off,  and  was  now  able  to  return  and 
report  that  Washington  himself  was  advancing  with 
3,000  men,  thus  forcing  Emmerich  to  fall  back. 
Wurmb  then  withdrew  to  the  lines  at  Kingsbridge, 

*  NOTE. — Rubenkonig  is  the  hero  of  a  late  very  attractive  addition  to 
our  slender  stock  of  literature,  in  a  novel.  "  Forgotten  Heroes.  A  Story  of 
the  American  War  of  Independence."  By  Franz  Treller.  Cassel,  1892. 


In  the   American   Revolution.  229 

and  the  Americans,  after  reconnoitering  the  ground, 
again  quietly  withdrew. 

The  German  soldiers  lost  heavily,  but  their  con 
duct  was  heroic,  and  Priischenk  was  rewarded  by  a 
decoration,  well  earned,  and  by  Clinton's  thanks, 
through  v.  Knyphausen. 

Washington  repeated  his  demonstrations,  but,  in 
spite  of  the  warning  of  Col.  v.  Wurmb,  reported  by 
his  adjutant,  v.  Ochs,  Clinton  refused  to  credit  their 
statement  that  all  this  was  merely  done  to  keep  Clin 
ton  fast  in  New  York. 

In  August  and  early  in  September,  the  Prince 
Charles  regiment,  the  four  Hessian  Grenadier  bat 
talions,  400  Hessian  and  Ansbach  Yagers,  and  other 
troops,  were  sent  on  board  ship,  landed  and  again 
loaded,  ready  to  go  to  Cornwallis'  help  in  Virginia, 
and  finally  kept  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  losing 
precious  time,  on  one  pretext  or  another  —  as  that 
there  were  not  enough  carpenters  to  repair  the  Eng 
lish  fleet,  when  the  soldiers  could  easily  have  sup 
plied  all  that  were  needed.  Even  when  once  on 
board,  the  transports  were  again  held  at  Staaten 
Island  and  the  troops  once  more  disembarked,  to 
be  reviewed  by  Prince  William,  later  William  the 
Fourth.  Then  the  6,000  men  were  again  put  on 
board,  and  then,  on  the  i8th,  on  the  fleet  of  24  men- 
of-war,  which  finally  sailed  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  arriv 
ing  there  on  the  28th  of  October,  and  at  once  getting 
ready  to  meet  the  French  fleet,  when  a  small  boat 
put  off  from  Cape  Charles  for  the  admiral's  ship. 


230  The  German  Allies 

Then  orders  were  given  to  move,  and  the  fleet 
promptly  put  out  to  sea  again  —  for  news  had  been 
received  that  Cornwallis  had  surrendered  nine  days 
before. 

Returning  at  once  to  New  York,  head  winds  and 
seas  kept  the  crowded  ships  outside,  and  the  men 
came  near  starving ;  but  supplies  were  brought  them 
from  the  city,  and  finally,  on  the  izjlh  of  November, 
the  troops  were  again  landed  and  quartered  in  very 
poor  temporary  quarters  on  Long  Island. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


Although  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  was  the  real 
end  of  the  war,  the  British  government  did  not  admit 
it,  Parliament  renewed  the  grant  for  the  allied  troops, 
and  the  German  recrnits  were  forwarded  as  usual. 

On  June  loth,  1782,  the  transport  fleet  of  15 
vessels,  escorted  by  three  men-of-war,  sailed  with 
Hessian,  Hanau,  Brunswick,  Ansbach  and  Zerbst 
recruits. 

Col.  v.  Hatzfeld  led  900  Hessians,  the  eighth  reg 
ular  reinforcement  —  consisting  of  Yagers,  artillery 
men  and  infantry  —  leaving  Cassel  on  April  loth. 
Their  route  lay  through  Prussian  territory,  and  in 
spite  of  the  report  that  Frederic  the  Great  would  not 
allow  German  recruits  for  America  to  go  through  his 
kingdom,  or  that  he  exacted  the  same  duty  that  was 
paid  on  cattle  sent  to  England,  no  effort  was  made  to 
interrupt  their  march  —  indeed,  their  number  was 
increased  by  Prussian  soldiers  deserting  to  join  the 
new  recruits. 

Arriving  in  Halifax  in  August,  the  men  were  dis 
embarked,  on  the  report  of  a  large  French  fleet  near 
by ;  but  it  proved  to  be  a  British  transport  fleet,  with 
1,500  men  and  provisions  for  the  army. 


232  The  German  Allies 

Meantime,  the  German  soldiers  in  and  near  New 
York  were  kept  busy  with  preparations  for  military 
operations.  The  Guards  and  Prince  Charles  regi 
ments  were  quartered  in  new  barracks,  which  they 
quickly  surrounded  with  earthworks. 

Dinklage  says,  in  his  diary,  that  New  York  was 
converted  into  a  regular  fortification  —  on  every  side 
defenses,  trees  all  cut  down,  the  beautiful  avenues 
and  orchards  all  gone  —  the  work  of  years  destroyed 
in  a  day. 

There  was  little  real  work  for  the  soldiers,  but 
they  were  kept  busy  protecting  the  refugees  —  men 
who  joined  no  regular  military  organization,  neither 
the  regular  nor  the  provincial  loyalist  troops,  but 
fought  for  their  own  hand,  singly,  and  in  defiance 
of  all  rules  of  war,  and  were  bitterly  hated  by  the 
Americans,  who  pursued  them  relentlessly. 

On  May  ist,  Gen.  Clinton  published  the  official 
declaration  of  negotiations  for  peace  and  ordered  all 
hostilities  to  be  suspended.  He  was  soon  relieved 
by  Gen.  Carleton,  now  Lord  Dorchester,  who  came 
rather  to  make  peace  than  carry  on  war,  and  who  at 
once  recalled  to  New  York  the  troops  in  the  south, 
at  Charleston  and  Savannah. 

The  German  soldiers  shared  the  general  dissatis 
faction,  and  one  of  their  officers  wrote  home :  "  Our 
conquests  in  America  avail  nothing.  We  must  give 
up  this  country ;  for  though  we  have  conquered  it, 
the  spirit  of  the  Americans  remains  unbroken." 

L-ieut.-Gen.  v.   Knyphausen   returned   home,    and 


In  the  American  Revolution.  233 

was  succeeded  by  Lieut.-Gen.  Lossberg,  in  command 
of  the  Hessians.  He  and  Clinton  sailed  together, 
after  receiving  every  mark  of  respect  from  the  Ger 
mans  —  and  Dinklage  says,  in  his  diary,  that  v. 
Knyphansen  went  with  the  affection  and  respect 
alike  of  the  English  and  Hessian  and  American 
soldiers. 

The  report  of  Admiral  Rodney's  great  victory  over 
Admiral  Grasse  led  to  renewed  reports  that  peace  was 
not  agreed  on  and  that  the  war  would  be  renewed, 
and  on  September  i5th,  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Wurmb  led 
three  brigades  and  a  force  of  cavalry  out  on  a  great 
foraging  expedition.  But  this  was  the  last  military 
demonstration  against  the  enemy,  and  not  a  shot 
was  fired.  The  men  were  exercised  and  manoeuvred 
mostly  in  brigades,  just  as  in  peace  times. 

The  Hessian  Yager  corps  had  enjoyed  its  first 
quiet  summer  on  Long  Island,  and  now  went  into 
winter  quarters  there. 

The  three  Hessian  regiments  left  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina  —  separated  for  years  from  their  fel 
low  soldiers  serving  in  the  north  —  led  a  miserable 
life,  with  no  sort  of  opportunity  for  military  distinc 
tion.  Left  there  by  Clinton  in  May,  1780,  they  did 
little  but  police  duty,  protecting  the  town  against  a 
threatened  attack  of  the  French  fleet  at  one  time, 
and  at  another  against  a  conspiracy  on  the  part  of 
some  of  the  patriotic  Americans  to  secure  the  help 
of  the  negroes  in  an  attempt  to  overturn  the  British 
command;  until,  in  October,  1782,  the  garrison  was 
30 


234  The   German   Allies 

put  on  board  a  fleet  of  transports  and,  after  joining 
the  other  troops  from  Georgia,  sailed  for  New  York, 
landing  there,  after  a  stormy  passage,  on  December 
ist,  when  the  Hessians  joined  v.  Bnnan's  regiment, 
in  Brooklyn,  and  went  into  winter  quarters  there. 
Most  of  the  Hessian  soldiers  were  put  into  tents  and 
suffered  great  hardships  during  the  winter. 

By  May,  nearly  all  the  Hessian  and  Ansbach-Bay- 
reuth  prisoners  of  war  were  returned  to  their  com 
mands  in  New  York.  Many  were  delighted  at  the 
prospect  of  returning  home,  but  a  goodly  number 
preferred  to  stay  in  America,  and  permission  was 
freely  given  to  all  who  chose  to  make  their  home 
there. 

The  royalists  were  first  supplied  with  transporta 
tion  and  it  was  not  until  July  that  the  troops  could 
be  embarked,  for  the  fleet  had  over  9,000  flying  roy 
alists  to  take  on  board. 

Carleton  carried  on  negotiations  for  the  exchange 
of  prisoners  with  great  zeal,  and  the  last  lists  pro 
vided  for  the  surrender  of  5,826  men  held  in  Phila 
delphia,  of  which  number  806  were  Germans  and  326 
loyalists  or  provincials,  and  as  Congress  would  not 
allow  these  to  remain  in  the  country,  they  were  the 
first  to  be  sent  to  New  York. 

Carleton  did  his  best  to  settle  matters,  and  his 
work  was  completed  when  peace  was  finally  agreed 
on  at  Versailles,  on  November  3,  1783. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

EVENTS  IN  CANADA,  FROM  1777  TO  1783, 


After  Burgoyne  left  Canada  on  his  campaign 
which  ended  so  ingloriously,  there  was  little  of  im 
portance  in  that  province  to  influence  the  war. 

Gen.  Gny  Carleton,  who  was  left  in  command, 
showed  characteristic  prudence  in  handling  his  small 
force,  scattered  through  the  vast  region  entrusted  to 
him.  His  force  included  669  Brunswick  and  Hesse 
Hanau  soldiers  —  6  captains,  12  lieutenants,  48  non 
commissioned  officers  and  600  private  soldiers,  under 
Lieut.-Col.  v.  Ehrenkrook,  a  capable  officer,  soon 
after  made  a  brigadier. 

The  spirit  of  unrest  was  spreading  rapidly,  and 
Carleton  showed  great  skill  in  avoiding  any  open 
quarrel  with  the  dissatisfied  elements.  He  strength 
ened  the  defenses,  manned  them  as  well  as  he  could, 
kept  up  communication  with  all  his  posts  and  strove 
to  do  his  best  in  his  isolation. 

When  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  disaster  reached 
him,  Carleton  sent  324  of  the  Brunswick  and  Hanau 


236  The  German  Allies 

soldiers,  under  Capt.  v.  Zielberg,  to  Trois  Rivieres, 
to  be  ready  to  lead  the  advance  in  any  movement 
southward. 

In  July,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Kreuzburg  arrived,  with 
three  new  Hanau  Yager  companies,  which  remained 
in  Canada.  It  was  a  thoroughly  disciplined  body  of 
men,  well  trained  in  firing  and  other  exercises,  and  a 
welcome  addition  to  Carleton's  forces.  They  had 
started  from  Hanau  in  May,  to  be  sent  to  Burgoyne, 
but  arrived  too  late. 

Late  in  November,  the  Brunswick  troops  went  into 
winter  quarters  near  Sorel,  the  Hanau  troops  near 
Berthier,  the  light  infantry  (Yagers)  on  the  south 
east  side  of  Montreal,  but  they  were  kept  constantly 
moving,  going  as  far  as  Lake  Champlain,  over  the 
snow,  on  patrol  duty.  The  officers  were  mostly  quar 
tered  in  private  houses,  and  the  men  were  often  cut 
off  from  them  by  bad  weather  for  days  at  a  time. 

The  posts  stationed  in  block-houses  were  still  more 
dreary,  and  the  German  soldiers  complained  of  the 
dreadful  dulness.  Only  in  March  was  it  broken  by 
the  sudden  arrival  of  the  governor,  with  orders  to  the 
soldiers  to  concentrate,  in  view  of  the  report  of  an 
American  attack,  but  as  it  proved  a  false  rumor,  the 
men  returned  to  their  quarters. 

Carleton  hurried  to  Quebec,  to  restore  order  there, 
and  Brigadier  Ehreiikrook  was  sent  to  the  parish  of 
Terrebonne,  to  quiet  an  outbreak  there. 

In  May,  a  regiment  of  Anhalt-Zerbst  soldiers 
arrived.  In  September,  1777,  the  Duke  of  Anhalt- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  237 

Zerbst  had  made  a  treaty  with  England,  in  which  he 
agreed  to  furnish  a  regiment  of  1,160  men,  to  serve 
for  six  years.  Enlistments  were  carried  on  in  Zerbst 
very  successfully.  The  Duke  was  a  strange  charac 
ter,  envious  of  the  fame  of  Frederic  the  Great,  with 
one  passion — fine  soldiers — and  he  raised  2,000  men, 
with  ii  colonels.  After  the  Seven  Year's  War,  he 
was  made  an  imperial  field  marshal,  by  the  emperor, 
although  he  lived  in  Switzerland  as  a  private  citizen. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty,  he  received  $300,- 
ooo,  under  these  stipulations :  that  for  every  soldier 
not  returning,  he  was  to  get  $44  ;  three  wounded  men 
should  be  counted  as  one  dead  man.  The  men  were 
to  receive  the  same  uniform  and  rations  as  the  Eng 
lish  soldiers.  The  officers  were  to  be  paid  12  pence, 
the  non-commissioned  officers  8  pence,  the  private 
soldiers  5  pence,  per  day.  All  sorts  of  refugees  from 
other  parts  of  Germany,  and  indeed  of  Europe,  were 
attracted  and  enlisted — good  care  being  taken  to  pre 
vent  their  escape.  But  to  get  officers  it  was  neces 
sary  to  advertise  in  the  papers,  and  in  this  way  two 
brothers  from  Brunswick,  Barons  v.  Rauschenplatt, 
became,  one,  the  elder,  colonel,  the  other  major,  of 
the  new  regiment. 

The  regiment  consisted  of 
First  battalion,  Major  v.  Piquet, 

Yager  troop,  Capt.  Keppenau,  50  men, 

Grenadier  company,  Maj.  v.  Piquet,  with  i  captain, 
3  lieutenants,  i  ensign,  10  corporals,  4  musicians 
and  1 66  men. 


238  The  German  Allies 

First  Musketeer  company,  Col.  v.  Rauschenplatt, 
Second  Musketeer  company,  Prince  August  Schwarz- 

burg-Sondershausen , 

Each  company  consisted  of  4  officers,  2  sergeants, 

10  corporals,  5  musicians,  146  men — in  all,  334. 

Second  battalion,  commander,  Maj.  v.  Rauschenplatt, 

Yager  troop,  Lieut.  Jaritz,  50  men, 

Grenadier  company,  Capt.  v.  Wintersheim,  50  men, 

First  and  Second  Musketeer  companies,  Major  v. 

Rauschenplatt  and  Capt.  Gogel, 
same  strength  as  the  First  battalion. 
The  regimental  staff,  44  strong, 
Artillery  and  train,  20  strong, 
Staff  adjutant,  Lieut,  v.  Mohring, 
Adjutant  First  battalion,  Lieut.  Littchau, 
Adjutant  Second  battalion,  Lieut.  Vierermal, 
Regimental  quartermaster,  Pahnier, 
Regimental  surgeon,  Dr.  Pakendorff, 
Regimental  chaplains  : 
Lutheran,  Braunsdorf, 
Reformed,  Naumann, 
Catholic,  Backer. 

The  regiment  brought  out  34  soldiers'  wives,  who 
served  as  washerwomen.  It  included  1,164  men — 
each  battalion  550.  In  five  months  it  was  ready  to 
move.  About  900  men  were  new  recruits,  the  rest 
were  old  soldiers. 

Col.  Faucit  mustered  the  regiment  into  the  British 
service  in  January,  1778,  and  in  February  it  left 
Zerbst,  after  a  warning  from  the  colonel  against 


In  the   American   Revolution.  239 

desertion.  Nevertheless,  the  Prussian  recruiting 
agents  got  a  number,  and  to  escape  them,  a  rounda 
bout  march  was  made  through  Leipzig,  Weissenfels 
and  Hannover  to  Stade,  but  there  were  desertions  all 
the  way  and  open  outbreaks,  both  with  the  soldiers 
and  civilians.  One  officer  died  of  his  wounds.  At 
one  place,  it  was  said  130  men  left,  at  another  a  lieu 
tenant  and  50  men  —  often  8  to  10  went  off  at  once, 
but  at  last  the  regiment  reached  the  sea  coast  1,119 
strong,  and  were  quartered  on  a  little  island  belong 
ing  to  the  Duke  of  Anhalt-Zerbst,  until  they  could 
be  put  on  board  ship. 

Leaving  port  on  April  26th,  they  reached  Quebec 
in  the  end  of  May,  but  as  General  Carleton  had  no 
official  news  of  this  much-needed  reinforcement,  he 
refused  to  receive  it  or  allow  it  to  land,  and  for  three 
months  the  poor  fellows  had  to  stay  on  shipboard, 
while  the  quartermaster  travelled  to  London  and 
back  with  the  necessary  papers.  Finally  allowed  to 
land,  they  were  kept  in  Quebec  until  the  men  could 
recover  their  health  and  get  a  fair  share  of  training 
and  discipline. 

Late  in  June,  Carleton  was  relieved  by  Haldimand 
as  governor  of  Canada,  who  was  waited  on  by  the 
German  officers  in  Quebec. 

In  July,  31  Hanau  artillerymen  arrived  and,  with 
60  men  drawn  from  the  German  forces,  were  assigned 
to  and  served  with  the  British  forces. 

In  September,  470  men  of  the  Brunswick  troops 
came,  under  four  officers  —  Captains  Stoder,  Weiss, 


240  The  German  Allies 

Ruff,  and  Lieut.  Corves  —  as  recruits.  The  officers 
soon  returned  to  Germany. 

Brigade-Major  v.  Papet  notes,  in  his  diary,  the 
return  of  two  expeditions  —  one  under  Major  Carle- 
ton,  nephew  of  the  general,  the  other  under  Johnson 
-which  spread  destruction  across  a  wide  stretch  of 
country,  burning  and  carrying  off  supplies  for  8,000 
men,  driving  women  and  children  off  to  New  Eng 
land,  and  spreading  the  hatred  of  Great  Britain  far 
and  wide.  The  English  excused  these  Indian  meth 
ods  of  warfare  by  the  necessity  of  protecting  their 
long  frontier  and  of  intimidating  the  Americans,  so 
as  to  prevent  their  making  reprisals  in  kind. 

The  troops  were  not  sent  into  winter  quarters  by 
Gen.  Haldirnand  until  the  middle  of  January,  1779. 
The  battalion  of  Ehrenkrook  was  distributed  as  fol 
lows  :  Capt.  v.  Zielberg  at  Rivieres,  Capt.  v.  Plessen 
at  Champlain  Parish,  Capt.  v.  Schlagenteuffel  at 
Point  du  Lac,  and  the  commander's  own  company  at 
Trois  Rivieres  ;  the  battalion  of  v.  Barner :  Lt.-Col. 
Earner's  company  at  Riviere  du  Loup  Parish,  Capt. 
v.  Harnbach's  at  Vanrenil,  Capt.  Thoma's  at  Masqui- 
nonge,  Capt.  Rosenberg's  at  St.  Culbert.  The  Prince 
Charles  regiment,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Pratorius,  long 
since  recalled  from  Ticonderoga,  was  quartered  in 
and  around  St.  Hyacinthe. 

The  cold  was  so  bitter  that  the  Second  battalion, 
on  its  march  across  Lake  St.  Peter,  under  Captain 
Thoma — Lieut.-Col.  Barner  being  sick — lost  14  men 
and  two  soldiers'  wives  killed  by  the  cold,  and  30  men 


In  the  American  Revolution.  241 

had  their  limbs  frozen.  Thoma  was  court  martialled, 
and  escaped  on  the  plea  that  the  proper  clothing  had 
never  been  issued ;  but  he  had  been  warned  of  the 
danger  of  exposing  his  men  at  such  a  season.  Brig 
adier  v.  Ehrenkrook  at  once  sent  an  officer  to  inspect 
the  troops,  who  reported  15  dead,  2  lost,  15  severely, 
23  slightly  ill,  from  the  effects  of  the  exposure  inci 
dental  to  the  literal  execution  of  orders.  Gen.  Hal- 
dimand  showed  great  sympathy,  sent  the  best  physi 
cians,  ordered  the  men  to  be  cared  for,  and  had  them 
brought  to  the  hospital  at  his  own  head-quarters,  at 
Trois  Rivieres. 

Papet,  in  his  diary,  describes  the  bad  condition  of 
Earner's  battalion.  Many  of  the  officers  were  sick, 
and  nearly  the  whole  battalion  made  unserviceable, 
and  quite  unable  to  make  any  resistance  to  an  enemy 
or  to  do  any  military  service  effectively. 

In  February,  placards  were  posted  at  Trois  Ri 
vieres,  inviting  the  Canadians  of  French  blood  to 
return  to  their  allegiance  to  the  King  of  France — 
signed  in  his  name  by  Count  d'Estaing,  dated  Bos 
ton,  October,  1778  —  but  they  produced  little  result. 
Investigation  fixed  the  responsibility  on  a  bookseller 
in  Montreal,  where  the  placards  were  also  posted. 

In  July,  the  provision  and  troop  fleet  arrived  in 
Quebec  from  Cork,  which  it  had  left  in  April,  bring 
ing  Lieut. -Col.  v.  Speth,  Ensign  Haberlin  and  25 
Brunswick  soldiers,  who  had  been  exchanged  at  Hal 
ifax  the  year  before  and  spent  the  winter  there.  A 
body  of  Hanau  recruits  also  arrived  —  dressed  in 
31 


242  The  German  Allies 

French  uniforms,  blue  with  red  facings,  which  they 
had  been  obliged  to  buy  with  their  own  money.  An 
English  privateer  had  captured  a  French  vessel, 
laden  with  French  uniforms  and  supplies,  and  as 
they  were  sold  cheap,  the  poor  fellows  who  had  been 
exchanged  prisoners,  were  glad  also  to  exchange 
their  old  rags  for  new  French  uniforms,  for  the  sake 
of  decency  and  comfort.  To  their  French  uniforms 
were  now  added  English  muskets  and  cartridge 
boxes,  which  gave  them  a  very  soldierly  air.  They 
were  glad  to  rejoin  their  comrades,  and  gave  a  sad 
account  of  the  hardships  of  their  long  imprisonment. 

On  July  3oth,  a  soldier  of  the  Rhetz  regiment 
rejoined  his  comrades,  after  having  escaped  and  gone 
through  infinite  suffering  to  prove  his  loyalty  to  his 
colors.  He  was  one  of  44  men  brought  to  Albany 
in  October,  1777,  and  at  first  imprisoned  there,  then 
distributed  among  the  farmers,  for  a  period  of  ten 
months,  for  their  food  and  lodgings.  When  the  har 
vests  were  over,  they  were  asked  to  enlist,  and  as 
they  all  refused,  they  were  again  sent  to  the  prison 
in  Albany.  At  last  a  commissary,  a  German,  got 
them  passes  and  had  them  set  free.  Then  some  of 
them  were  persuaded  to  join  a  royalist  force  under 
Butler,  and  were  able  to  get  by  way  of  Niagara  to 
Montreal,  where  they  showed  their  discipline  by 
rejoining  their  respective  commands. 

A  fifth  body  of  Hanau  recruits  came  in  August, 
on  a  fleet  of  36  ships,  which  brought  provisions,  etc. 

Lieut.-Col.  v.  Speth  now,  as  senior  officer,  resumed 


In  the  American  Revolution.  243 

command,  relieving  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Ehrenkrook,  who 
had  kept  the  German  troops  together  in  one  brigade. 
He  remained  as  battalion  commander. 

At  the  end  of  August,  Brigadier  v.  Speth  inspected 
the  German  troops  and  directed  the  oldest  soldiers  to 
be  invalided  and  sent  back  to  Germany. 

In  September,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Kreutzburg  took  a 
Yager  detachment  of  a  captain,  two  lieutenants  and 
100  men,  to  Montreal.  A  report  had  been  spread 
that  a  force  of  7,000  men  were  on  the  way  to  Niag 
ara.  The  Fifth  Hanau  company,  under  Capt.  Hug- 
get,  who  had  lately  arrived,  joined  the  Yagers  and 
marched  to  Fort  Niagara.  Wittgenstein's  company 
was  sent  to  Carleton  Island,  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
river,  where  it  falls  out  of  Lake  Ontario.  Captain 
Hambach,  with  his  company  of  Earner's  battalion, 
was  ordered  to  Montreal  on  October  ist. 

A  British  fleet,  leaving  England  in  May,  reached 
the  St.  Lawrence  river  in  September.  Of  the  14 
transports,  two  were  filled  with  Brunswick  troops  ; 
they  were  put  on  smaller  vessels  and  taken  to  St. 
Ann's,  whence  Brigadier  v.  Speth  led  them  to  Trois 
Rivieres.  They  included  i  staff  officer,  9  subalterns 
and  263  men.  They  were  in  old  uniforms,  which 
were  replaced  by  new  ones,  as  were  those  of  the 
Anhalt-Zerbst  regiment,  and  all  were  supplied  with 
tents  sent  from  England. 

The  governor  issued  from  the  depots  in  Canada 
for  each  man  a  pair  of  breeches,  a  pair  of  shoes,  a 
blanket,  and  also  a  pair  of  gloves,  to  protect  them 


244  The   German   Allies 

through  the  winter.      These  were  a  gift  from  the 
Queen  of  England. 

Maj.  v.  Cleve,  of  the  Brunswick  troops,  reported  to 
Gen.  v.  Riedesel  that  there  were  in  Canada  at  this 
time  2,185  Brunswick  and  306  Hanau  soldiers, 
besides  the  Yagers.  They  were  carefully  provided 
with  good  quarters  for  the  winter,  to  avoid  a  repeti 
tion  of  the  disasters  of  the  last  winter  —  the  staff 
and  Ehrenkrook's  battalion  at  Berthier,  v.  Earner's 
battalion  at  Montreal,  the  Prince  Frederick  regiment 
at  its  old  post,  sending  one  company  to  St.  John,  and 
an  officer  and  50  Yagers  to  Isle  aux  Noix.  Lieut.- 
Col.  v.  Kreutzburg,  with  his  Hanau  Yagers,  was 
sent  to  La  Prairie  and  other  villages,  as  far  as  St. 
Francis. 

The  Wittgenstein  company  remained  at  Carleton 
Island,  the  Hanau  detachment  at  Quebec,  under 
Captain  v.  Schill. 

An  officer  and  30  Hessian  Yagers  were  part  of  a 
detachment  sent,  in  April,  1780,  to  Lake  Champlain. 

In  June,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Kreuzburg,  with  his  entire 
Hanau  corps,  was  ordered  to  Quebec,  leaving  one 
officer  and  50  men  on  Carleton  Island.  Lieut.-Col. 
v.  Ehrenkrook  and  his  battalion  were  brought  into 
the  lines  at  Trois  Rivieres.  The  German  troops 
worked  on  the  defenses  at  Quebec.  Two  companies 
of  the  Prince  Frederick  regiment  were  quartered  at 
Fort  St.  John,  and  114  men  must  work  every  day 
on  the  works,  which  had  been  injured  by  a  fire. 
The  v.  Barner  battalion  was  sent  to  Quebec,  and 


In  the  American  Revolution.  245 

went  into  camp  there,  drawing  tents  from  the  Eng 
lish  supplies. 

Quebec  was  strengthened,  on  the  report  that  two 
French  fleets  were  preparing  to  attack  it.  Col.  v. 
Kreutzburg  objected  to  his  men  working  on  the  for 
tifications,  on  the  ground  that  they  were  exempt 
from  such  duty,  and  they  were  afterwards  employed 
on  long  expeditions,  which  was  much  more  to  their 
liking. 

At  the  end  of  June,  reinforcements  for  the  v.  Loss- 
berg  and  v.  Knyphausen  regiments  arrived,  under 
Col.  v.  Loos,  who  was  soon  made  brigadier  and,  with 
his  men,  stationed  at  Quebec. 

In  July,  the  Brunswick  infantry  exchanged  sta 
tions  with  v.  Ehrenkrook's  battalion,  which  occupied 
the  tents  vacated  by  the  former. 

The  fearful  heat  made  provisions  scarce  and  the 
summer  as  trying  as  the  winter  had  been.  Deser 
tions  became  very  frequent  among  the  Germans  — 
not  worse  than  among  the  Americans,  of  whgm  a 
captain  and  150  men  at  one  time  came  into  the  Brit 
ish  lines. 

Eight  men  of  the  Brunswick  companies  deserted 
together,  but  were  pursued  and  brought  back  by  the 
Anhalt-Zerbst  regiment.  The  fault  lay  largely  with 
the  poor  quality  of  recent  enlistments  in  Germany. 

At  the  end  of  August,  in  the  camp  at  Quebec, 
there  were  the  brigade  of  v.  Loos,  Hessian  troops ; 
the  Hanau  regiment,  under  Capt.  v.  Scholl ;  the  two 
Brunswick  companies  of  the  v.  Ehrenkrook  battalion. 


246  The  German  Allies 

Col.  v.  Rauschenplatt  commanded  his  own  regiment, 
the  Hanau  Yagers  and  the  Hanan  and  Hessian  artil 
lery.  The  news  of  the  promotion  of  Brigadier  v. 
Speth  to  be  colonel  was  received  along  with  that  of 
the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick. 

In  September,  the  Hanau  Yager  company  made 
part  of  Col.  Carleton's  force  on  an  expedition  below 
Quebec. 

In  October,  the  German  troops  were  sent  to  winter 
quarters,  in  villages  some  forty  miles  from  Quebec, 
where  no  Germans  had  hitherto  been  stationed,  but 
they  were  afterwards  sent  to  their  old  stations  —  the 
Ehrenkrook  battalion  at  L'Assomptioii,  v.  Earner's 
at  Montreal,  the  Hanau  detachment,  under  Capt.  v. 
Scholl,  at  St.  Anna,  the  Hanau  Yagers,  under  Kreuz- 
burg,  at  St.  Valier,  one  company  in  Quebec,  the  v. 
Knyphausen  regiment  at  Berthier,  the  v.  Lossberg 
on  Isle  Orleans. 

The  handful  of  Brunswick  dragoons  had  a  hard 
time  of  it,  scattered  among  the  other  troops,  wearing 
their  old  cavalry  equipment,  until  v.  Speth  got  them 
fitted  out  more  suitably. 

The  hot  summer  was  followed  by  a  winter  of  high 
prices  for  grain ;  straw  rose  from  three  or  four  pias 
ters  to  30 ;  the  dwelling  houses  were  robbed  of  their 
thatched  roofs  to  give  the  straw  to  the  cattle,  but 
many  starved,  and  the  vegetation  was  destroyed  by 
worms  and  caterpillars. 

A  conspiracy  of  Johnson's  men  to  imprison  and 
kill  the  British  officers  was  detected  and  prevented. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  247 

The  provision  fleet  was  eagerly  expected ;  instead 
came  the  news  that,  after  being  scattered  by  storms 
at  sea,  of  the  63  vessels  intended  for  Canada,  out  of 
150  which  left  Portsmouth  in  May,  a  portion  had 
been  attacked  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  in  August 
by  three  French  frigates.  At  the  end  of  the  month, 
a  fleet  of  65  vessels  reached  Quebec,  with  two 
years'  supplies  and  some  Brunswick  recruits. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel  came  at  the  end  of  September, 
having  been  exchanged,  with  many  of  his  officers, 
and  900  German  soldiers,  after  a  hard  voyage  from 
New  York.  He  brought  5  Brunswick  staff  officers, 
1 6  captains,  24  subalterns,  and  400  men  ;  the  rest 
were  Hesse  Hanau  and  Anhalt-Zerbst  troops  - 
recruits  brought  from  New  York  to  join  their  regi 
ments.  Before  Riedesel  arrived,  Capt.  v.  Schlagen- 
teuffel  had  reached  Canada,  with  70  Brunswick  sol 
diers,  who  had  bought  their  own  release  from  the 
Americans  ;  their  worn  out  uniforms  were  exchanged 
for  English  uniforms,  bought  by  their  commander. 
Riedesel  brought  the  rest  of  the  Dragoon  regiment 
and  a  battalion  which  Major  Lucke  had  organized  in 
New  York,  of  the  Brunswick  soldiers  he  found  there. 

Riedesel  and  his  family  were  warmly  welcomed  by 
Haldimand  and  they  became  warm  friends.  The 
German  officers,  Papet  and  others,  spoke  highly  of 
Haldimand  in  their  letters  home. 

Riedesel  at  once  resumed  command  of  the  German 
troops  and  reorganized  them,  equalizing,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  proportion  of  officers  and  the  number  of 


248  The  German  Allies 

men.     On  the  2oth  of  October,  he  assigned  the  offi 
cers  as  follows  : 

(1)  Dragoon  regiment,  Capt.  v.  Schlagentuffel, 

(2)  Prince  Frederick  regiment,  Lieut-Col.  Pratorius, 

(3)  v.  Rhetz  regiment,  Lieut-Col,  v.  Ehrenkrook, 

(4)  v.  Riedesel  regiment,  Lieut-Col,  v.  Hille, 

(5)  v-  Specht  regiment,  Major  v.  Lucke, 

(6)  Light  battalion,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Earner. 

There  were  six  regiments,  or  rather  battalions,  of 
Brunswick  troops,  a  half  regiment  of  Hanau  troops, 
a  battalion  of  Hanau  Yagers,  two  half  regiments  of 
Hessians,  the  Anhalt-Zerbst  regiment. 

Riedesel,  at  Clinton's  request,  suggested  to  Haldi- 
mand  that  he  should  lead  an  expedition  of  4,000  men 
across  Lake  Erie  to  Virginia,  to  attack  the  Ameri 
cans  on  the  rear. 

But  Haldimand,  instead,  sent  small  expeditions 
to  Vermont  and  to  Oswego,  and  both  returned  at 
the  end  of  September,  without  result,  for  3,000 
Americans  had  promptly  rallied  to  drive  the  former 
off. 

The  order  for  winter  quarters  was  issued  early  in 
October,  assigning  the  German  troops,  under  Gen. 
Riedesel,  from  Besancourt  to  Point  au  Per,  on  the 
north  shore  of  Lake  Champlain ;  those  under  Briga 
dier  v.  Speth  at  Montreal ;  the  Hanau  Yagers  to  Par 
ish  Chateaugay,  and  the  royalists,  under  Major  Nern, 
to  Vergere. 

The  Brunswick  corps,  by  the  end  of  the  year,  had 
lost,  by  death  and  desertion,  405  men,  and  the  total, 


In  the   American   Revolution.  249 

including  the  prisoners,  showed  a  strength  of  3,898 
men. 

The  fear  of  insurrection  kept  the  soldiers  busy  as 
armed  police,  and  the  prisons  were  soon  full  of  sus 
pects  and  men  accused  of  treason  or  sympathy  for 
the  enemy. 

As  early  as  1777,  many  Canadians,  thought  guilty 
of  conspiracy,  were  taken  to  the  cathedral  and  with 
ropes  around  their  necks  forced  to  listen  to  a  long 
high  mass  and  then  to  ask  pardon  of  the  king, 
church  and  God. 

To  maintain  the  good  feeling  of  the  loyalists,  all 
were  promptly  paid  for  supplies  furnished,  and  the 
German  soldiers  were  particularly  commended  for 
their  good  conduct  to  the  citizens. 

Naturally,  Canada  was  the  refuge  of  all  loyalists 
sent  out  of  the  American  colonies,  and  Montreal  and 
Quebec  were  full  of  them,  so  that  life  was  made  as 
attractive  as  possible. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel  had  general  charge  of  the  mili 
tary  posts  and  defenses,  and  was  anxious  lest  the 
French  should  try  to  regain  their  old  foothold.  In 
deed,  in  July,  1780,  the  French  ministry  seriously 
considered  sending  6,000  men,  under  Rochambeau, 
from  Newport,  to  make  a  demonstration  of  the  kind. 
Riedesel  suggested  sending  spies  down  the  Connecti 
cut  to  Springfield  and  Hartford,  to  ascertain  and 
report  what  preparations  were  making,  and  whether 
the  French  were  in  force  at  Hartford.  It  was  not 
known  that  the  French,  under  Rochambeau,  had 
32 


250  The  German  Allies 

marched  to  Virginia  in  September,  with  a  part  of 
Washington's  army  —  thus  showing  how  tardily 
news  reached  Canada. 

Not  until  the  middle  of  June,  1782,  did  the  troops 
leave  their  winter  quarters.  The  Anhalt-Zerbst 
regiment,  the  companies  of  the  Lossberg  regiment 
and  of  the  Hanau  troops,  under  Capt.  v.  Scholl,  went 
into  camp  at  Point  Levi,  opposite  Quebec,  under 
Maj.-Gen.  v.  Loos.  Two  companies  of  the  Lossberg 
regiment,  lost  in  the  storm  of  1779,  were  replaced  by 
newly-arrived  recruits,  at  Halifax.  The  missing 
officers  were  already  replaced. 

Riedesel  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  German 
troops  in  Canada.  He  wrote  to  Gen.  v.  Knyphausen, 
in  September,  1781:  "  Not  a  single  difficulty  has 
occurred  between  them  and  the  inhabitants,  and  Gen. 
v.  Loos  has  gained  the  affection  alike  of  the  German 
and  English  soldiers." 

Gen.  Carleton,  when  he  succeeded  Clinton,  at  once 
directed  Gen.  Haldimand  to  strengthen  all  of  his 
defenses,  and  the  German  general,  in  spite  of  failing 
health,  was  active  in  carrying  on  the  work.  During 
the  summer,  his  five  German  regiments  completed 
the  defenses  of  Isle  aux  Noix ;  British  and  German 
soldiers  working  side  by  side,  in  heat  and  cold  and 
rain. 

The  works,  constructed  of  stone,  were  built  with 
casemates,  and  were  to  be  completed  by  the  middle 
of  the  next  summer. 

Isle  aux  Noix  was  the  key  to  the  command  of  Lake 


In  the  American  Revolution.  251 

Champlain   from  the   south.      Fifty  Hanau  Yagers 
were  posted  at  River  la  Colle. 

In  October,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Mengen  arrived  in  Que 
bec  with  some  of  the  exchanged  officers  from  Vir 
ginia.  Riedesel  went  to  Quebec  to  welcome  them. 
Later  in  October,  Major  v.  Maiborne  brought  more 
from  New  York.  After  Mengen's  arrival,  the  Gren 
adier  battalion  was  reorganized  by  help  of  men  from 
the  four  infantry  regiments. 

At  the  end  of  October,  the  orders  were  issued  for 
winter  quarters  —  the  Dragoons  at  St.  Antoine,  the 
Grenadier  battalion  at  Berthier,  the  v.  Rhetz  regi 
ment  at  Sorel,  St.  Dennis  and  St.  Charles,  the  Ried 
esel  regiment  at  Sorel,  the  Specht  regiment  at  St. 
Francois,  the  Light  battalion  v.  Varner  at  St.  Sulpice. 

Haldimand  showed  Riedesel  the  last  instructions 
from  Carleton,  advising  him  that  Congress  wanted  to 
drive  the  Indians  out  of  their  territory,  and  to  pro 
long  the  war,  in  the  hope  of  securing  the  cession  of 
Canada  and  Florida. 

Writing  in  September  or  earlier,  from  New  York, 
Carleton  said  the  Americans  would  attack  Canada  in 
October,  and  that  communication  must  be  kept  open 
with  Halifax,  to  secure  the  prompt  forwarding  of 
reinforcements  lying  or  arriving  there  and  quite  use 
less  at  that  place.  Riedesel  complained  that  Carle- 
ton  had  not  sent  orders  to  Halifax  directly  to  for 
ward  the  reinforcements. 

The  fifth  Brunswick  detachment  of  recruits  had 
arrived  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  in  Canada ;  the 


252  The  German  Allies 

sixth  was  on  its  way,  and  Riedesel  sent  his  adjutant 
to  the  Penobscot  to  meet  it ;  so  that  at  the  end  of  the 
year  it  nninbered  2,830  men,  including  129  officers 
and  25  subalterns;  there  were  still  1,137  prisoners 
of  war.  Many  officers  were  now  exchanged  or  borne 
on  the  active  list. 

Biedesel  ordered  a  number  of  his  soldiers  to  prac 
tice  the  use  of  snow-shoes,  and  the  patrols,  looking 
like  Eskimos  in  their  winter  garb,  were  learning  the 
use  of  snow-shoes,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the 
natives,  to  whom  they  were  a  second  nature. 

On  the  report  of  a  hostile  movement  from  Albany, 
Riedesel  ordered  Lieut-Col,  v.  Kreuzburg  to  send  a 
detachment  of  Yagers  and  dragoons  to  Isle  aux  Noix, 
and  a  company  of  the  v.  Rhetz  regiment  to  St.  John, 
all  on  snow-shoes. 

Riedesel  himself,  in  spite  of  bad  health,  personally 
inspected  the  posts  from  Sorel.  At  St.  John  he 
heard  that  the  Americans  had  started  in  February, 
and  early  in  March  reported  it  to  Haldimand,  but 
the  real  state  of  the  case  was  soon  ascertained.  A 
French  Col.  Villet  had  undertaken  to  surprise  Fort 
Niagara,  but  was  forced  to  retreat,  with  a  loss  in 
prisoners  and  deserters. 

In  March,  rumors  of  peace  began  to  spread,  but 
the  doubt  as  to  the  future  of  Canada  made  it  neces 
sary  to  act  very  cautiously. 

On  March  22d,  Lieut.-Col.  v.  Ehrenkrook  died,  at 
Trois  Rivieres,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors, 
and  the  officers  who  had  gathered  for  his  funeral 


In  the  American  Revolution.  253 

were,  by  his  direction,  entertained  at  a  handsome 
dinner,  paid  for  by  him. 

In  April,  Haldimaiid  received  news  of  the  peace, 
through  a  vessel  coming  from  the  east,  although  the 
treaty  had  been  published  in  Philadelphia. 

On  the  26th,  he  received  from  Carleton  official 
word  that  hostilities  had  ceased,  by  virtue  of  an 
agreement  of  January  2oth.  Riedesel  said  the  news 
was  received  with  great  regret,  which  he  shared. 

In  June,  Riedesel  received  from  Gen.  Carleton  the 
king's  orders  to  send  all  the  German  soldiers  home ; 
the  Brunswick  troops  to  go  first,  and  only  the  pris 
oners  in  New  England  to  be  left.  They  had  seen 
little  fighting  since  Burgoyne's  surrender,  but  they 
had  done  much  hard  work. 

A  Hessian  officer,  describing  the  Hanau  Yager 
corps,  said :  "  Although  seeing  little  real  war,  they 
had  led  a  wholesome  life  in  the  Canadian  woods, 
rivalling  the  Indians  in  their  long  marches,  hunting 
and  fishing,  and  enjoying  life  much  more  than  the 
German  soldiers  at  home  or  in  the  southern  armies." 

The  scattered  forces  could  not  well  be  brought 
together.  Some  of  the  last  recruits  were  in  New 
York,  some  in  Newfoundland.  The  prisoners  of  war 
in  Pennsylvania  were  sent  directly  to  Europe. 

Riedesel  sent  Lieut.  Reineking  to  take  those  that 
were  brought  to  New  York  directly  to  Germany,  ask 
ing  Carleton  to  help  him  with  money  and  other 
necessaries,  and  Carleton  reported  to  Riedesel  that 
they  had  started  in  June. 


254  The   German   Allies 

The  prisoners  taken  at  Bennington  were  still  in 
Massachusetts  ;  Major  Baurmeister  was  sent  to  Phil 
adelphia  to  arrange  with  Congress  for  their  return 
home. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


The  German  soldier  could  gain  little  glory  in  the 
war  now  ended,  but  he  had  shown  himself  brave, 
patient,  well  disciplined  and  trustworthy.  He  had 
gained  practical  experience  and  useful  lessons  in 
new  methods  of  warfare,  which  proved  useful  in  sub 
sequent  campaigns. 

Gen.  Valentini,  an  able  soldier  and  a  good  writer 
on  military  matters,  said  of  the  Hessians :  "  Of  all 
the  troops  sent  against  France  in  the  later  wars,  the 
soldiers  from  Hesse  Cassel  showed  the  highest  mili 
tary  skill,  endurance,  good  spirit,  and  a  true  love  of 
war ;  even  in  uniform,  he  was  ready  to  turn  his  hand 
to  any  labor ;  he  showed  the  good  lessons  learned  in 
America,  and  was  the  last  to  complain  of  having  been 
sent  there  in  British  pay — for  it  was  a  capital  school 
of  war,  and  the  men  who  returned  profitted  by  their 
experience,  and  those  who  stayed  behind  had  nothing 
to  regret." 

The  American  war  was  of  infinite  use  to  the  Ger 
man  soldiers.  Ten  years  later,  they  applied  the  les 
sons  learned  there  in  defending  their  own  country, 


256  The  German  Allies 

and  the  best  officers  and  the  best  soldiers  in  the  war 
with  France  were  those  who  had  served  in  America. 

Domberg,  Langen,  York  and  Gneisenau  were  cap 
ital  examples  of  the  lessons  learned  in  America, 
applied  in  the  Prussian  army  to  its  great  advantage, 
for  those  who  had  fought  in  the  Seven  Years'  War 
were  now  gray-h aired  veterans. 

The  Americans  naturally,  perhaps,  in  the  heat  of 
the  contest  with  Great  Britain,  exaggerated  every 
thing  that  was  said  about  the  Germans  —  their  num 
bers,  their  losses  and  their  actions. 

Adjutant  Henel,  in  1778,  wrote  from  New  York, 
complaining  that  the  reports  published  in  Germany 
made  the  same  mistake. 

Even  as  faithful  a  writer  as  Cooper,  the  novelist, 
was  unjust  to  the  German  soldiers  serving  in  Amer 
ica.  Against  his  romantic  abuse,  let  us  put  the 
plain  statement  of  the  Hessian  Major  Pfister,  in  his 
account  of  the  Hessian  Yagers  in  the  American  war, 
from  1776  to  1784.  He  says:  "In  spite  of  false 
reports,  the  Hessians  served  well,  both  on  foot  and 
on  horseback,  and  were  respected  alike  by  British 
and  American  soldiers,  for  their  bravery  and  good 
conduct." 

In  an  essay,  presumably  by  Ewald,  published  in 
1789,  the  author  says  :  "  Five  years  after  the  close  of 
the  American  war,  few  people  know  the  brilliant  part 
played  by  the  Hessian  corps  in  America,  and  history 
has  failed  to  clo  them  justice.  The  outcome  of  that 
war  was  the  result  of  the  bad  management  of  the 


In  the  American  Revolution.  257 

British  government,  and  not  the  fault  of  British  sol 
diers,  or  their  allies,  the  Germans." 

Their  losses  are  not  easily  ascertained.     Ventru- 
rini  says  there  were 

Sent  to  America.         Lost. 

Hessians 16,992  6,500 

Brunswick 5,723  3,015 

Hanau 2,422  981 

Ansbach-Bayreuth I^44  461 

Waldeck I>225  720 

Zerbst 1,160  176 


29,166       11,853 


Gen.  v.  Ochs  estimates  that  of  12,000  Hessians 
sent  to  America,  and  4,000  to  5,000  recruits  after 
wards  sent  out,  between  6,000  and  7,000  did  not 
return ;  but  besides  the  loss  in  seven  campaigns,  a 
large  number  voluntarily  remained  in  America  after 
the  war. 

Gen.  v.  Schlieffen  says  that  their  actual  loss  was 
much  less  than  in  the  European  campaigns  —  1,800 
actually  killed  out  of  nearly  30,000  was  no  great 
proportion. 

Major  Pfister  says  the  far  larger  proportion  of  the 
men  sent  to  America  were  volunteers,  and  so  the  lar 
ger  proportion  of  those  that  did  not  return  stayed  in 
America  voluntarily.  The  Germans  did  not  desert 
in  as  great  number  as  the  English  and  American 
troops,  but  after  the  war  was  over,  they  decided  to 
make  their  homes  in  America. 
33 


258  The  German  Allies 

Most  of  the  recruits  sent  to  the  Hessian  forces 
were  volunteers  from  Hanau,  and  they  had  joined 
just  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  America  and  staying 
there,  and  they  were  quite  justified  in  doing  so. 

Of  Hessian  officers  there  fell,  to  the  end  of  1777, 
Col.  Rail,  Lieut-Col.  Scheffer  and  Lieut-Col.  Bre- 
thauer,  Majors  v.  Weitersheim,  v.  Hanstein,  v.  De- 
chow  and  Matthias ;  there  died  Cols.  v.  Heringen 
and  v.  Riess,  Lieut-Col.  Lange  (on  the  way  over) 
and  Maj.  v.  Bentheim. 

To  the  close  of  1778,  Heister  only  reported  twelve 
casualties,  and  of  the  five  general  officers  of  Germans 
in  America,  all  returned  safe  home  again. 

Many  of  the  soldiers  who  remained  in  America 
did  so  with  the  consent  of  their  officers.  The  Duke 
of  Brunswick  reduced  his  standing  army  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  gladly  gave  their  men  and  officers 
leave  to  stay  in  America.  Of  115  Brunswick  officers, 
7  were  killed  in  battle,  12  died,  and  7  remained  with 
leave  —  a  total  of  26 —  and  this  in  spite  of  long  and 
weary  imprisonment,  which  enabled  them  to  make 
an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  country,  and  with 
the  wish  of  their  own  sovereign  to  have  them  stay. 

Equally  untrue  is  it  that  the  Hessian  invalided 
soldiers  were  treated  cruelly  by  their  own  sovereign. 
The  Invalid  battalion  at  Cassel  was  increased  in  1781 
by  two  companies  and  up  to  the  close  of  the  war  by 
three,  so  that  it  made  eight  companies  and  formed  a 
regiment,  and  was  not  reduced  to  a  battalion  until 
1784. 


In  the   American   Revolution.  259 

Gen.  v.  Ochs,  who  was  himself  in  the  Hessian  ser 
vice  in  America,  says  the  men  were  particularly  well 
cared  for,  both  in  war  and  in  peace  —  much  better 
than  in  the  war  with  France,  later  on. 

Ewald,  too,  had  personal  experience,  and  attests 
the  fact  that  there  were  no  great  losses  or  hardships. 

The  average  ration  of  the  British  soldier  was  much 
better  than  that  of  the  German  soldier  at  home,  and 
in  America  they  shared  it  together. 


When  the  war  was  over,  Congress  offered  the  Ger 
man  soldiers  every  advantage,  in  case  they  remained 
in  America.  The  British  government,  too,  made  lib 
eral  offers  of  land  in  Nova  Scotia  —  free  transporta 
tion,  300  acres,  free  from  taxes  for  twelve  years,  etc. ; 
but  only  a  few  accepted  them. 

In  July,  1783,  the  Hanau,  Waldeck  and  Zerbst 
recruits  left  New  York,  followed  in  August  by  the 
Ansbach-Bayreuth  and  the  First,  and  later  the  Sec 
ond  Hessian  divisions.  The  Hessian  Yagers,  for 
want  of  transportation,  did  not  sail  until  late  in 
November. 

The  First  Hessian  division,  under  Maj.-Gen.  v. 
Kospoth,  consisting  of  the  regiments  Knyphausen, 
Ditfurth,  Prince  Frederick,  Bose,  Borbeck,  Bunau, 
Benning,  Knobloch,  and  the  Grenadier  battalion  An- 
genelli,  sailed  August  i5th,  reaching  home  in  Octo 
ber  and  November.  The  Hanau  volunteers  went 
directly  home. 


260  The  German  Allies 

The  troops,  as  they  arrived  iu  Cassel,  were  received 
by  the  Elector. 

The  Second  division,  under  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Wurmb, 
sailed  in  November,  reaching  England  only  at  the 
end  of  December.  Scattered  by  storms,  the  trans 
ports  landed  at  Plymouth  and  Deal  and  Portsmouth 
and  Dover  and  Chatham,  wherever  and  whenever 
they  could  make  a  harbor,  for  provisions  were  run 
ning  short,  and  some  were  obliged  to  run  into  Irish 
ports  for  fresh  supplies. 

Finally  landed  in  Chatham,  they  were  comfortably 
quartered  in  barracks  there.  They  were  inspected 
by  Gen.  Tryon,  the  former  governor  of  New  York, 
in  March,  and  he  entertained  the  Hessian  officers  at 
a  splendid  dinner,  for,  as  Lotheisen  notes  in  his  diary, 
he  had  always  been  a  special  friend  of  the  Hessians. 

Leaving  England  in  April,  they  reached  Germany 
at  last,  and  being  freshly  equipped,  were  received  by 
the  Crown  Prince  and  were  reviewed  by  the  Elector, 
with  every  mark  of  honor  and  gratitude  for  their  good 
service. 

The  Hessian  Yagers  were  also  welcomed  by  the 
Elector,  on  their  return  to  Cassel,  in  May,  after  a 
long  detention  in  England. 

The  other  German  regiments  were  released  from 
captivity  in  May,  1783,  at  Frederic,  Maryland,  their 
officers  rejoining  them.  Dohla  says,  in  his  diary, 
that  the  people  —  and  especially  the  women  —  were 
very  sorry  to  bid  them  good-bye.  Chaplain  Wagner, 
of  Ansbach,  preached  his  last  sermon.  Capt.  Ques- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  261 

noy's  company  of  102  men  was  reduced  to  33,  and 
many  others  in  the  same  proportion.  They  were 
brought  in  boats  across  the  Susquehanna  and  bivou 
acked  at  Lancaster,  then  reached  Philadelphia,  where 
the  men  revolted  at  being  quartered  in  the  jail. 
After  a  four  days'  rest,  they  went  through  Bristol, 
Trenton,  Princeton,  to  Staaten  Island,  marching  236 
miles  in  13  days,  and  on  Long  Island  went  into  their 
old  quarters,  got  new  clothes,  wigs  and  queues  again, 
just  as  of  old. 

Col.  v.  Seyboth  rejoined  his  regiment  on  the  22d 
of  June  —  now  reduced  to  one-third  of  its  original 
strength.  The  King  gave  them  new  breeches,  the 
Queen  new  blankets. 

At  last  came  the  order,  and  the  450  men  were  em 
barked  on  three  frigates  —  such  wretched  ships  that 
they  were  soon  scattered,  reaching  port  in  August 
and  September,  and  then  the  men  sailed  in  14  trans 
ports  and  two  frigates  — 1,500  in  all,  Brunswick, 
Hessian,  Anhalt-Zerbst  and  Waldeck  soldiers  —  and 
not  until  the  2oth  were  they  mustered  and  paid. 
The  men  not  natives  of  the  particular  little  state 
with  whose  force  they  were  serving,  received  travel 
ing  expenses,  some  as  much  as  two  guineas,  to  carry 
them  to  their  own  homes.  They  were  all  supplied 
with  good  and  abundant  food,  but  their  pay  was  at 
once  reduced  to  the  German  rate.  The  troops  were 
heartily  welcomed  at  their  homes,  received  free  enter 
tainment,  and  were  treated  with  marked  honor  by 
their  princes  and  by  all  the  authorities. 


262  The  German  Allies 

The  German  forces  in  Canada  were  soon  collected 
in  Quebec,  where  Riedesel  arranged  for  their  trans 
portation —  he  and  his  family  going  on  a  special 
vessel. 

The  troops  were  specially  inspected  and  reviewed, 
as  they  arrived  in  Qnebec,  embarked  under  salutes, 
and  sailed  early  in  August,  making  a  fleet  of  sixteen 
sail  for  the  first,  and  eight  for  the  second,  division. 
Together  they  numbered  105  officers  and  1776  men 
and  64  soldiers'  wives.  The  general  had  the  best 
ship,  which  reached  England  in  eighteen  days  —  the 
others  later  on. 

Riedesel  and  his  wife  received  every  mark  of  dis 
tinction  in  London  from  the  court  and  nobility. 

The  Brunswick  and  Hanau  prisoners  of  war,  484 
men,  came  with  the  First  Hessian  division  —  after 
six  years  of  helpless  captivity.  They  were  the  first 
German  soldiers  to  reach  home  —  and  the  next  were 
the  exchanged  prisoners  from  New  York. 

Gen.  v.  Riedesel  rejoined  his  forces  and  marched 
at  their  head  into  Brunswick  early  in  October,  and 
was  welcomed  by  the  Duke  with  every  honor — it  was 
a  real  triumphal  progress.  They  numbered  2,618,  of 
whom  112  were  officers.  The  greater  part  were  dis 
charged,  but  163  of  the  handsomest  men  were  sent 
to  the  Duke's  Prussian  regiment.  Officers  and  sol 
diers  were  officially  authorized  to  remain  in  America. 

All  these  German  soldiers  were  received  on  their 
return  home  with  honor  and  in  a  way  that  showed 
the  popular  appreciation  of  their  service  in  America. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  263 

It  was  a  duty  which  they  had  done  bravely  and  well, 
and  there  was  no  evidence  that  they  were  looked  on 
as  hirelings.  Their  heroic  deeds  were  matter  of  con 
stant  mention,  and  were  preserved  in  songs  and  pop- 
nlar  sayings  that  are  still  traditions,  but  never  was 
there  any  reason  for  failing  in  due  honor  to  them. 


NOTES. 


On  February  8,  1783,  the  Duke  of  Brunswick 
issued  an  order  directing  the  reduction  of  his  army, 
and  giving  the  officers  and  men  permission  to  remain 
in  or  return  to  America,  and  granting  those  who  did 
so  six  months'  pay.  Each  captain  was  to  receive  an 
allowance,  on  being  retired,  of  $15  ;  a  first  lieuten 
ant,  $8  ;  a  second  lieutenant,  $6. 

In  April,  1783,  Lord  North  wrote  to  Gen.  v.  Ried- 
esel  in  reference  to  the  return  home  of  his  force, 
thanking  him  and  them  for  their  services. 


Notice  of  the  Hessian  Yager  corps,  by  Major 
Pfister : 

Col.  v.  WURMB,  after  Donop's  death,  commander ; 
Lieut.-Gen.  1806 ;  died  1813. 

Maj.  v.  PRUSCHENK,  commanded  the  Yagers  in  the 
Netherlands  in  1793  ;  died  in  1800,  a  Major-General. 

Maj.  PHILIPP  v.  WURMB,  1806,  Maj  .-Gen.;  died 
1808. 

Capt.  v.  WREDEN,  died  a  Colonel  in  1791. 


Capt.  JOHN  EWALD,  the  original  organizer  of  the 

34 


266  The   German   Allies 

Yager  corps,  won  great  reputation  in  the  American 
war;  in  1788  was  made  Lieut.-Col.  in  the  Danish 
service  and  raised  the  Holstein  Yager  corps  ;  became 
a  nobleman,  a  Lieut. -General,  General  in  command 
of  Holstein,  and  died  in  1813. 

Capt.  HEINRICHS,  became  a  Lieutenant-General  in 
the  Prussian  army  and  died  in  1834. 

Fr.  Ad.  JULIUS  v.  WANGENHEIM,  First  Lieutenant 
and  Captain,  originally  in  the  Gotlia  service.  (Wrote 
a  capital  book  about  the  trees  in  America.) 

DEMESSEY,  MONTLUISANT  and  DE  FASOUIEL,  three 
Frenchmen,  who  refused  to  fight  against  their  coun 
trymen  in  America ;  the  first  was  discharged  in 
1781  ;  the  second  entered  the  army  only  to  get  to 
America  ;  was  discharged,  tried  to  join  the  American 
army,  was  seized  and  sent  to  England ;  the  third  got 
his  discharge. 

Capt.  JOHN  SCHAFFER,  became  Lieut-General  and 
Minister  of  War  in  Darmstadt,  and  was  ennobled  as 
"Schafferv.  Bernstein." 

JOHN  CONRAD  FUESS,  Second  Lieutenant,  became 
Colonel  of  the  Dutch  Crown  Prince  regiment  in  1816. 

ADAM  LUDWIG  OCHS,  Second  Lieutenant  and  Ad 
jutant,  1781  ;  1809,  Brigadier-General  (in  Spain)  ; 
1810,  General  of  Division  (in  Russia)  ;  died  1823,  as 
Major-General ;  author  of  a  capital  book  on  "The 
Formation  of  Light  Infantry." 


In  the  American  Revolution.  267 

Sir  GEORGE  HANGHER(?),  Lord  Coleraine,  Captain, 
1778;  Major-General,  died  1840. 


Of  the  Hanau  Yager  corps  : 

CARL  v.  KREUTZBURG,  Lieut. -Colonel,  Colonel ;  in 
the  campaign  of  1792,  commanded  the  Hessian  Ya 
ger  corps ;  died  1796. 


APPENDIX. 


The  Hessian  troops  sent  to  America  in  1776 : 

1.  The  Guard  regiment Col.  v.  Wurmb. 

2.  "     Prince  Charles  regiment   .    .  Col.  Schreiber. 

3.  v.  Ditfurth  regiment Col.  v.  Bose. 

4.  "     v.  Triimbach  regiment, 

Col.  v.  Bischoffshausen. 

5.  "     v.  Donop  regiment Col.  v.  Gosen. 

6.  v.  Mirbach  regiment Col.  Loos. 

7.  "     v.  Wutgenau  regiment    .    .  Col.  v.  Kospoth. 

8.  "     Crown  Prince  regiment,  Col.  v.  Hachenberg. 

9.  "     v.  Lossberg  regiment .    .    .  Col.  v.  Lossberg. 

10.  "     v.  Knyphausen  regiment   .    .   Col.  v.  Borke. 

11.  "     Grenadier  Regiment  Rail  .   .    .  Col.  v.  Rail. 

12.  "     Garrison  Regiment  v.  Wissenbach, 

Col.  v.  Horn,  Col.  v.  Borbeck. 

13.  "     v.  Huyne  regiment   ....   Col.  v.  Huyne, 

Col.  Kurtz. 

14.  "     v.  Biinau  regiment Col.  v.  Biinau. 

15.  "     v.  Stein  regiment Col.  Seitz. 

16.  "     First  Grenadier  battalion,  Col.  v.  Linsingen. 

17.  "     Second  Grenadier  battalion,  Lt.-Col.  v.  Block. 

18.  "     Third  Grenadier  battalion, 

Lt.-Col.  v.  Miniiigerode. 


270  The  German  Allies 

19.  The  Fourth  Grenadier  battalion,  Lt.-Col.  Kohler. 

20.  Two  companies  Field  Yagers   .    .   Col.  v.  Donop. 

21.  Three  companies  Field  Artillery  .    .  Col.  v.  Eitel. 

The  first  organization  was  as  follows  : 

First  Division : 

Lieutenant-General  v.  Heister. 
First  Brigade,  Second  Brigade, 

Maj.-Gen.  v.  Mirbach.  Maj.-Gen.  v.  Stirn. 

Regiments,  Regiments, 

v.  Mirbach,  The  Guards, 

v.  Donop,  Prince  Charles, 

v.  Wntgenan,  v.  Ditfnrth, 

Crown  Prince,  v.  Triinibach, 

Grenadier  Battalion  Grenadier  Battalion 

v.  Block.  v.  Minnigerode. 

Second  Division : 

Lieutenant-General  v.  Knyphausen. 
First  Brigade,  Second  Brigade, 

Col.  v.  Lossberg.  Maj.-Gen.  Schmidt. 

Regiments,  Regiments, 

v.  Hnyne,  v.  Lossberg, 

v.  Stein,  v.  Wissenbach, 

v.  Knyphanseii,  v.  Biinau, 

Grenadier  Battalion  Grenadier  Battalion 

Kohler.  Kohler. 

In  a  letter  of  July,  1776,  to  the  Duke  of  Bruns 
wick,  Gen.  v.  Riedesel  complains  that  Gen.  Carleton 


In  the  American  Revolution.  271 

insisted  on  the  German  soldiers  being  trained,  as 
were  his  English  troops,  on  the  French  system  of 
open  order  in  thin  lines,  and  adds  that  he  means  to 
teach  his  men  to  secure  the  shelter  and  protection  of 
the  trees  in  their  advance,  just  as  do  the  Americans, 
and  to  be  able  to  meet  them  in  fighting  in  the  woods 
on  equal  terms. 

In  a  letter  to  Gen.  Burgoyne,  Riedesel  sketched  a 
plan  for  making  the  army  mobile,  by  seizing  horses 
for  transportation  of  both  men  and  stores,  and  thus 
moving  rapidly  enough  to  get  advantage  of  its  supe 
riority  in  numbers  and  equipments.  Acting  in  part 
on  this  suggestion,  Burgoyne  issued  orders  to  Lt.-Col. 
Baum,  instructing  him  that  the  objects  of  his  expe 
dition  were  to  ascertain  the  inclination  of  the  popula 
tion,  to  secure  horses,  and  a  stipply  of  cattle,  wagons 
and  food;  he  needed  1,300  horses,  in  addition  to  the 
number  required  to  mount  Riedesel's  dragoons.  The 
order  was  issued  on  August  gth,  1777,  and  was  based 
on  the  notion  that  the  work  could  be  easily  done  in  a 
fortnight. 

In  a  letter  (in  cipher)  to  the  Duke  of  Brunswick, 
in  1777,  Riedesel  reported  the  difficulties  growing 
out  of  the  change  of  command  in  Canada,  and  said 
that  Carleton  was  violently  excited  against  Lord 
George  Germain,  and  meant  to  call  him  to  account 
in  Parliament.  He  also  complained  of  Burgoyne  as 
demanding  more  from  Canada  than  it  could  possi- 


272  The  German  Allies 

bly  supply.  All  this  made  Riedesel's  position  very 
uncomfortable. 

Reports  were  rife  that  Howe  did  nothing  but 
gamble,  and  that  the  majority  of  the  officers  were 
ruined  by  high  play.  Plundering  was  the  rule,  and 
New  Jersey  was  said  to  be  laid  waste. 

Howe's  lines  were  so  far  extended  that  it  was 
impossible  to  hurry  reinforcements  to  Trenton.  But 
for  the  unfortunate  affair  there,  the  people,  worn  out 
by  their  suffering,  would  have  forced  Congress  to 
submit  to  the  Crown,  but  that  success  changed  the 
feeling  of  the  rebels. 

The  letter  said  that,  in  spite  of  wearying  slowness, 
of  the  mistakes  made  in  every  direction,  if  General 
Howe  held  the  Delaware  and  gained  any  advantage 
on  the  rebels,  and  reached  Albany  by  the  middle  of 
August,  every  thing  would  be  improved,  "but  we  can 
hardly  hope  to  get  back  to  Germany  in  1778.  The 
intrigues  and  misunderstandings  in  the  army  are 
very  violent,  and  I  am  afraid  that  the  union  with 
Gen.  Howe  will  prove  a  source  of  new  difficulties." 


In  an  order  to  the  Brigadiers  and  staff  officers  of 
his  corps,  Gen.  v.  Riedesel,  while  complimenting 
them  on  the  bravery  and  good  conduct  of  the  men, 
urges  the  necessity  of  instructing  them  to  fight  in 
open  order,  to  secure  the  shelter  of  trees  or  cover  of 
any  kind,  and  only  to  fire  from  that  position,  except 
when  meeting  the  enemy  in  the  open,  then  to  fire 
and  attack  at  once  with  the  bayonet,  in  close  order, 


In  the  American  Revolution.  273 

for  then  the  enemy  will  give  way  at  once.  Then, 
too,  officers  and  men  mnst  be  prompt  in  going  to  the 
assistance  of  any  part  of  the  force  that  may  be  en 
gaged,  so  as  to  give  it  promptly  the  help  of  numbers. 


The  recall  of  Gen.  Heister  was  due  entirely  to  the 
influence  of  Gen.  Howe  with  the  British  government, 
which  insisted  on  the  change.  Heister  criticized 
Howe's  operations  in  the  fall  of  1776,  in  a  way  that 
made  the  latter  bitterly  hostile. 

In  December,  long  before  the  affair  at  Trenton, 
Lord  Suffolk,  Secretary  of  State,  wrote  to  the  Hessian 
representative  in  London,  asking  that  the  Elector  of 
Hesse  would  insist  on  Gen.  v.  Heister's  absolute 
obedience  to  Howe's  orders. 

In  January,  1777,  he  writes :  "Gen.  v.  Heister  is 
worse  than  useless,  and  his  presence  at  the  head  of 
the  German  soldiers  in  the  field  is  a  constant  source 
of  anxiety  and  trouble."  Again  on  January  7th, 
27th,  and  February  4th,  he  returns  to  the  matter, 
and  urges  Gen.  v.  Schlieffen,  the  Hessian  representa 
tive  in  London,  quietly  to  secure  the  recall  of  Gen. 
v.  Heister,  so  that  the  command  might  fall  to  Gen.  v. 
Riedesel,  who  was  entirely  satisfactory.  He  very 
unfairly  tried  to  put  the  responsibility  of  the  defeat 
at  Trenton  on  Heister,  whose  reports,  however, 
showed  that  it  was  entirely  Howe's  own  fault  in 
leaving  a  force  far  beyond  supporting  distance. 
However,  the  pressure  put  on  the  Elector,  who  was 
then  in  Italy,  was  so  great  that  he  finally  recalled 
35 


274  The  German  Allies 

Heister,  courteously,  and  saying  that  it  was  only  for 
a  time,  and  to  have  his  advice,  etc.,  but  it  excited  a 
great  deal  of  comment  at  home  and  abroad. 

In  Holland,  particularly,  it  was  discussed  in  very 
plain  terms,  for  the  Dutch  hated  the  English,  and 
the  German  princes  who  helped  England. 

SchliefFen  wrote  to  York,  the  British  minister  in 
Holland,  to  try  to  put  some  restraint  on  the  freedom 
of  the  Dutch  press,  and  York  replied  that  the  state 
ment  had  better  come  from  Cassel,  and  be  made  pub 
lic  in  the  English  papers,  when  it  would  be  copied 
into  those  of  Holland. 

There  was  no  question  of  Heister's  military  capac 
ity,  but  only  his  disposition  to  submit  to  Howe. 


In  July,  1779,  the  Count  of  Hanau  wrote  to  Cap 
tain  v.  Diemar,  thanking  him  for  a  letter  of  April 
3d,  from  New  York,  giving  a  report  of  the  Hanau 
troops  still  in  captivity.  The  sovereign  of  Hanau 
said  these  were  his  best  soldiers,  and  his  heart  was 
full  of  love  and  pity  for  them  ;  he  hoped  Washington 
would  soon  exchange  them.  For  his  own  part,  he 
begged  for  frequent  reports  of  their  condition,  as 
everything  that  concerned  them  was  of  the  greatest 
interest  to  him. 


NOTE  ON  THE  BATTLE  OF  TRENTON.— The  battle 
of  Trenton  served  a  good  purpose,  in  enabling  those 
who  were  hostile  to  the  employment  of  German  sol- 


In  the  American  Revolution.  275 

diers  in  the  British  service  in  the  American  Revolu 
tion,  to  put  them  in  the  worst  light.  There  is  a  let 
ter,  purporting  to  be  written  by  the  Elector  of  Hesse 
Cassel,  Frederick  the  Second,  to  the  commander  of 
the  Hessian  troops,  which  has  often  been  commented 
on.  It  purports  to  be  an  answer  to  a  letter  of  De 
cember  27th,  1776,  reporting  that  of  1,950  Hessians 
engaged  in  the  battle,  only  300  escaped,  and  that 
i  ,650  were  killed,  wounded  or  captured.  The  Elector 
says  the  English  list  gives  only  1,455  casualties.  If 
that  were  so,  he  would  lose  160,000  florins — he  would 
get  only  483,450  florins,  instead  of  643,000.  The 
British  treasury  would  not  pay  for  100  wounded  the 
price  of  dead  soldiers.  The  Elector  expresses  his 
discontent  with  Major  Mindorf  for  escaping  with  300 
men  from  Trenton,  and  for  losing  only  10  during  the 
whole  campaign. 

This  letter  is  pronounced,  by  good  authority,  an 
impudent  forgery.  It  purports  to  be  signed  by  the 
Count  of  Schaumburg  and  Prince  of  Hesse  Cassel ; 
but  there  never  was  any  such  person  —  it  is  a  confu 
sion  of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Hesse  and  the  Count  of 
Hanau.  There  was  no  such  officer  as  Count  Hohen- 
dorf,  to  whom  the  letter  is  addressed,  and  there  was 
no  Major  Mindorf.  General  v.  Heister  was  the 
commander. 

The  report  purports  to  be  dated  December  27th  — 
as  if  a  commander  could,  on  the  day  after  such  a  bat 
tle  as  that  at  Trenton,  have  given  all  the  particulars  ! 
The  answer  is  dated  February  8th ;  but  at  that  time 


276  The   German   Allies 

it  took  letters  five  to  six  weeks  to  get  to  London,  and 
this  letter  had  to  go  to  Rome. 

It  was  first  printed  in  St.  Louis,  in  1845,  ^n  the 
newspaper  The  Reveille,  and  it  was  soon  reprinted  in 
Germany,  where  it  has  often  been  cited. 

Priedrick  Kapp  attributes  it  to  a  French  source, 
and  thinks  it  may  have  been  forged  by  Mirabeau, 
one  of  the  busiest  of  French  pamphleteers,  and  pub 
lished  in  Holland.  Mirabeau  and  Abbe  Raynal  were 
doing  their  best  to  oppose  the  alliances  with  the  Ger 
man  powers  as  strengthening  the  English  force. 

The  fact  is  that  Gen.  v.  Heister's  first  report  is 
dated  New  York,  January  5,  1777,  and  is  addressed 
to  Gen.  v.  Schlieffen,  in  London ;  in  it  he  says  a 
brigade  of  Hessian  soldiers,  under  Col.  Rail,  was  at 
tacked  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  by  an  American  force,  ten 
thousand  strong.  Only  291  men  saved  themselves 
by  flight ;  the  rest  were  killed  or  'captured.  All  the 
staff  officers  of  the  brigade  and  Col.  Rail  were  mor 
tally  wounded.  The  fifteen  flags  and  six  guns  of  the 
three  regiments  were  taken.  He  attributes  the  disas 
ter  to  Rail's  want  of  judgment  and  coolness.  The 
Elector's  answer  was  April  7th,  in  letters  to  Gen.  v. 
Heister  and  Gen.  v.  Knyphausen — he  regreted  that 
such  a  responsible  post  should  have  been  entrusted 
to  Rail,  who  was  not  entitled  to  it  by  seniority  or  ser 
vice.  He  directed  a  strict  investigation  of  the  conduct 
of  the  surviving  officers,  especially  of  Lieut. -Col. 
Scheffer,  that  the  fault  might  be  laid  on  those  who 
deserved  it.  The  court  of  inquiry  was  appointed,  and 


In  the  American  Revolution.  277 

on  January  nth  exonerated  these  officers,  and  later,  in 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1778,  the  staff  officers 
Scheffer  and  Mathans,  and  the  captains  of  engineers, 
Pauli  and  Martin,  the  staff  captain,  Baum,  and  adju 
tant,  Biel. 


A  LIST  OF  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  HES 
SIAN  CORPS  SERVING  UNDER  GEN 
ERALS  HOWE,  CLINTON  AND 
CARLETON,  1776-1783. 


AUTHORITIES. 


The  principal  sources  from  which  the  following 
list  was  compiled,  besides  the  material  in  Eelking, 
are: 

I.  A  List  of  the  General  and  Staff  Officers,  and  of 
the  Officers   in  the   several    Regiments    serving  in 
North  America,  nnder  the  Command  of  His  Excel 
lency  General  Sir  William  Howe,  K.  B.,  with  the 
Dates  of  their  Commissions  as  they  Rank  in  each 
Corps  and  in  the  Army.     Philadelphia :    Printed  by 
Macdonald  &  Cameron,  a  few  doors  above  the  Bar- 
racs-Office,  MDCCLXXVIII. 

II.  The   same.      New  York :    Printed  by  James 
Rivington,  etc.,  MDCCLXXVIII. 

III.  A  List      *      *      of  the  Officers  in  the  several 
British,  Foreign  and  Provincial-  Regiments,  serving 
in  North  America,  nnder  the  Command  of  His  Ex 
cellency,  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  K.  B. 

New  York :  Printed  by  Macdonald  &  Cameron,  etc., 
1779. 

IV.  Game's  Universal  Register ;  or,  American  and 
British  Kalendar,  for  the  Year  1 780.      New  York : 
Printed  by  H.  Gaine,  etc. 

36 


282  The  German  Allies 

V.  Mills  &  Hicks'  British  and  American  Register, 
with  an  Almanack  for  the  Year  1781.      *  New 
York :  Printed  by  Mills  &  Hicks,  etc. 

VI.  Game's  Universal  Register  for  the 
Year  1782.     New  York  :  Printed  by  H.  Gaine,  etc. 

VII.  A   List   of   the   Officers  of  the  Army  serv 
ing  under  the  Command  of  His  Excellency, 
Sir  Guy  Carleton,  K.  B.      *      *     For  the  Year  1783. 
New  York :  James  Rivington,  MDCCLXXXIII. 

VIII.  Adam  Friedrich  Geisler's  des  jiingern  Ge- 
schichte   und    Zustand   der   Koniglich    Grosbrittan- 
nischen  Kriegsmacht  zu  Wasser  und  zu  Lande  von 
den  friihesten  Zeiten  bis  an's  Jahr  1784.     *     *     Des 
sau  und  Leipzig,  1784. 

From  the  newspapers  published  in  New  York  city 
and  Philadelphia  during  the  British  occupation,  and 
other  sources,  some  additional  matter  has  been  col 
lected,  most  of  which  has  been  embodied  in  the  foot 
notes.  The  list  is  necessarily  imperfect,  as  scarcely 
any  information  can  be  found  about  the  composition 
of  the  Hessian  regiments  during  1776  and  1777. 

A  roster  of  the  Brunswick  officers  will  be  found 
appended  to  Eelking's  Leben  der  Riedesel,  Leipzig, 
1856. 


A  LIST  OF  THE  HESSIAN  CORPS  NOW  IN 
AMERICA. 


His   Excellency   the   Lieutenant-General    and    Com- 
mander-in-  Chief. 

'Leopold  Philipp  von  Heister,  1777-1778. 
Baron  Wilhelm  von  Knyphausen,  1778-1782. 

A  dju  tant-  General. 

Major  Carl  von  Baurmeister,  1778,  1780,  1781,  1782. 
Aides-de-Camp  to  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Major  Carl  von  Baurmeister,  1779. 
2Capt.  William  Faucit,  May,  1 776-^8 1. 

3  "      Hon.  Henry  Phipps,  1778. 

4  "      George  Beckwith,  1779-1782. 
"      von  Doernberg,  1781,  1782. 

"      Marquard,  1782. 
Lieut.  Marquard,  1778-1781. 

von  Heister,  1778. 
"      von  Barsewitz,  1778-1783. 
"      Crammond,  1779-1781.       [Eelking,  Captain.] 
"      von  Metzner,  1779. 

!On  the  igth  of  November  last,  died  at  Cassel,  Lieutenant- General  Philip  von 
Heister,  in  his  Britannic  Majesty's  service.  Knight  of  the  two  Hessian  orders, 
the  Golden  Lion  and  Military  Virtue  'I 'he  occasion  of  his  death,  was  an  inflam 
mation  in  his  lungs,  which  carried  him  off  in  four  days,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of 
his  age. — Gaine's  New  York  Gazette,  February  g,  1778. 

*Of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Third  Regiment  of  Foot  Guards. 

8Of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  First  Regiment  of  Foot  Guards. 

4Of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  of  Foot  Guards. 


284  The  German  Allies 

Secretary. 
H.  Motz,  1778-1782. 

Lieutenant-Generals. 

Lieutenant-General    Baron    Friedrich   Wilhelm   von 
Lossberg,  1782,  1783. 

A.  D.  C.,  Captain  Meltzheimer,  1782,  1783. 
Lieutenant-General  von  Bose,  1782,  1783. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Henel,  1782,  1783. 
Lieutenant-General  Max.  von  Dittfurth,  1782,  1783. 

Major-  Generals. 

Major-General  Stirn,  1778,  1779. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  von  Westerhagen,   1778,  '79. 
Major-General  von  Mirbach,  1778. 

A.  D.  C.,  Captain  Schotten,  1778. 
Major-General  Schmidt,  1778,  1779. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Becker,  1778,  1779. 
Major-General  Baron  von  Lossberg,  1778-81. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Meltzheimer,  1778-81. 
Major-General  von  Bose,  1778-81. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Volpert,  1779-80. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Henel,  1781. 
Major-General  von  Huyne,  1778-80. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Hoeckert,  1779. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Roepenack,  1780. 
Major-Genetal  Heinrich  Jul.  von  Kospoth,  1779-83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Marquard,  1779-83. 
Major-General  Friedrich  von  Hackenberg,  1780-83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Gran,  1780-83. 
'Major-General  Friedrich  Adolph  Riedesel. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Cleve, 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Freeman. 

JIn  command  of  the  District  of  Long  Island. — "  Robertson's  Orderly  Book," 
November  22,  1780. 


In  the   American   Revolution.  285 

Major-General  Uphraim  von  Gosen,  1781-83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  von  Westphal,  1781-83. 
Major-General  Hans  von  Knoblauch,  1781-83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Knoblauch,  1781-83. 
Major-General  Carl  Ernst  von  Bischauseh,  1781-83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Ensign  von  Sacken,  1781-83. 
Major-General  Friedrich  W.  von  Wurmb,  1782,  '83. 

A.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant  Wiederhold,  1782,  '83. 
Major-General  Johann  August  von  Loos,  1783. 

Brigadier-  Generals. 

Brigadier-General  Johann  August  von  Loos,  1782. 
Brigadier-General  Carl  W.  von  Hackenberg,  1780. 

Quarter-Masters  General. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  von  Kochenhausen,  1778-81. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  du  Puy,  1782. 

Deputy  Quarter-Masters  General. 

'Captain  Martin,  1778,  '79. 

Lieutenant  de  Gironcourt  de  Vomecourt,  1781,  '82. 

Majors  of  Brigade. 

Major  du  Puy,  1778,  '79. 
Captain  von  Willmousky,  1778-80. 
Captain  Werner,  1780,  '81. 
Lieutenant  Fiihrer,  1782. 

Deputy  Majors  of  Brigade. 

Lieutenant  Werner,  1778,  '79. 
Lieutenant  Fiihrer,  1778-81. 

Judge  Advocate. 
-Motz,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82. 

!Died  in  New  York,  May  27,  1780  — Gaines  New  York  Gazette,  June  5,  1780. 


286  The  German  Allies 

Chaplains. 

Reformed — Bingell,  1778. 

Becker,  1779-81. 
Lutheran— Heller,  1778,  '79,  '80,  '81. 

Provost  Marshal. 
Lieutenant  Riedell,  1778-82. 

Wagon-Masters  General. 
Ruppersberg,  1778,  '79. 
Schade,  1781,  '82. 

Commissariat. 

'Counsellor  of  War  and  Commissary-General  John 
George  Lorentz,  1778-81. 

Paymasters  General. 
Carl  Schmidt,  1778-80. 
Richard  Lorentz,  1781,  '82. 

Commissaries  of  Stores. 
John  Ebert,  1778-82. 
-  Lorenz,  1782. 

Assistant  Commissary  General. 
Richard  Lorentz,  1779,  '80. 

Commissaries. 
Sroppel,  1778. 
Rysch,  1778. 
Frebell,  1778. 

HOSPITAL. 

Purveyors. 

Franz  Gelan,  1778,  '81,  '82. 
Ludwig  Schmidt,  1778,  '81. 

'Died  of  apoplexy,  aged  68,  in  New  York  city,  June  29,  1781. — Gaincs  New 
York  Gazette,  July  2,  1781. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  287 

Clerks. 

Schmidt,  1781. 
Massot,  1781,  '82. 
Schaeffer,  1781. 

Physicians. 

Dr.  Lukhardt,  1778-82. 
Dr.  Estarch,  1778. 
Dr.  Alirhalis,  1780. 
Dr.  Michaelis,  1781,  '82. 

Surgeons  General. 

Amelung,  1778-81. 

Carl  Bauer,  1778-81. 

Commissaries. 
Marsol,  1778. 
Schaeffer,  1778-81. 
Chartier,  1778. 
Massot,  1781. 

Chaplains. 

Schrecker,  1779,  '81,  '82. 
Becker,  1782. 
Beck,  1782. 

Surgeons. 

Miiller,  1779-81. 

Girard,  1779-81. 

August  Bauer,  1779-82. 

Wagner,  1779-81. 

Claus,  1779-81. 

Brand,  1779. 

Amelung,  1782. 

Fleck,  1781. 

Apothecaries. 
Rudolph,  1779,  '80. 


288  The  German  Allies 

Schirmer,  1779-82. 
Gnnther,  1779. 
Hierman,  1781,  '82. 

Cooks. 

Welgehausen,  1781. 
Sander,  1781. 


BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  LINSING,  1778-1781. 

Lieutenant-Colonel. 
von  Linsiiig,  1778-81. 

Captains. 

Von  Stamfort,  1778. 
von  Malet,  1778,  79,  '81. 
von  Webern,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
von  Plessen,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
"August  von  Westerhagen,  1778. 
'Ernst  von  Eschwege,  1778. 
von  Dinklage,  1779,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 
3de  Buy  [1777.] 
'Prodemann,  1778. 

Friedrich  Henrich  von  Groening,  1778,  '79. 
Von  Banmbacli,  1778. 
'Waitz  von  Eschen,  1778. 
Pliilo  von  Westerhagen,  1778. 
Proecke,  1778,  '79. 
Kleinschmidt,  1779. 

Bounded  at  Red  Bank.— Eelking,  vol.  I,  page  222. 

2  Wounded  at  the  passage  of  the  Bronx,  October  28,  1776 — Gaine's  New  York 
Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 

3Wounded  at  Brandy  wine.—  Pennsylvania  Ledger,  March  4,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  289 

First  Lieutenants. 

von  Schuler,  1779,  '81. 
von  Hegeman,  1781. 
Schraidt,  1781. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
von  Ende,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
von  Hartleben,  1779,  '81. 
von  Hanstein,  1779,  '81. 
von  Verschuer,  1779,  '81. 
Kersting,  1779,  '81. 
Dunker,  1779,  J8i. 
von  Wangenneim,  1781. 

Adjutant. 
Kleinschmidt,  1781. 

Quarter-Master. 
Wilnelm  Broeske,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Surgeon. 
George,  1778,  '79. 

NOTE. — See  note  at  end  of  the  Mirbach  Regiment. 


Two  GRENADIER  COMPANIES  HESSIAN  GUARDS. 

Captains. 

Webern,  1783.  Oct.     9,  1768. 

Plessen,  1783.  Apr.    4,  1775. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Hantleb,  1783.  Mar.   5,  1779. 

Hanssein,  1783.  Mar.   6,  1779. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Wangenheim,  1783.  Feb.  19,  1779. 

Eptingen,  1783.  June    3,  1782. 

37 


290  The  German  Allies 

BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  LENGERCKE,  1778-81. 

Lieutenant-Colonel. 
von  Lengercke,  1778-81. 

Captains. 

von  Wurmb,  1778. 
von  Eschwege,  1778,  '79. 
'von  Oreilly,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
von  Gall,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
von  Willmonsky,  1779. 
Vogt,  1781. 
Renting,  1781. 

Lieutenants. 
Roll,  1778. 
von  Escnwege,  1778. 
Kanffmann,  1778. 
Spangenberg,  1778. 
Donop,  1778. 
Freyenhagen,  1778. 
Schwaner,  1778,  '79. 
Ernst,  1778,  '79. 
Butte,  1778,  '79- 
von  Westpnal,  1778,  '79. 
Berthod,  1778,  '79. 
Hansmann,  1779. 
von  Kospoth,  1779. 

First  Lieutenants. 
von  Trott,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
von  Kospoth,  1781. 
Hansmann,  1781. 
Reiss,  1779,  '81. 
von  Leliva,  1779,  '81. 

'To  be  Town  Major  of  New  York  city,  vice  Captain  Reuting,  who  resigns. — 
Gainis  New  York  Gazette,  November  30,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  291 

Second  Lieutenants. 
von  Kospoth,  1781. 
von  Geyso,  1781. 
von  Losberg,  1779,  '81. 
Hartmann,  1781. 

Adjutant. 
von  Kuntzch,  1781. 

Quarter-Master. 
Spangenberg,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Surgeon. 
Reinhard,  1778,  '79. 

BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  MINNIGERODE, 
1778,  1779. 

BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  LOWENSTEIN,  1781. 

Lieutenant-  Colonels. 
'von  Minnigerode,  1778,  '79. 
Friedrich  Heinrich  von  Scnuter,  1780. 
von  Lowenstein,  1781. 

Captains. 

2Wachs,  1778,  '79,  >8i. 
2Stendorff,  1778,  '79. 
von  Munschhausen,  1778. 
WilHelm  von  Biesenroth,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Mondorfif,  1779,  '81. 
Klingender,  1781. 

Lieutenants. 
Gebhard,  1778. 

'Wounded  at  Red  Bank  — Pennsylvania  Ledger,  March  4,  1778.  Died  at 
New  York,  October  16,  1779  He  was  a  Knight  of  the  "Order  of  Merit." — 
Gaine's  New  York  Gazette.  October  25,  1779. 

'Wounded  at  Red  Bank. — Eelking,  volume  i,  page  222. 


292  The  German  Allies 

von  Haller,  1778. 
Heymell,  1778. 
Heinricli  Hille,  1778,  '79. 
Vaupell,  1779. 
Marquardt,  1779. 
von  Gluer,  1779. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Toepffer,  1778-81. 
von  Winzingerode,  1778-81. 
Zinck,  1778-81. 
Kimm,  1779-81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

von  Rabenau,  1778-81. 
von  Geyso,  1778-81. 
Ernst  Briede,  1779-81. 
Desoudres,  1779-81. 
von  Hoben,  1781. 
von  Romrod,  1781. 

Quarter-Master. 
Ungar,  1778-81. 
Spangenberg,  1779. 

Surgeon. 
Franck,  1778,  '79. 

Adjutant. 
Hille,  1781. 

NOTE.— See  note  at  end  of  the  Mirbach  Regiment. 


BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  KOEHLER,  1778. 
BATTALION  OF  GRENADIERS  GRAFF,  1779-1781 

L  ieittenan  t-  Colonel. 
Koehler,  1778. 
Graff,  1780,  '8 1. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  293 

Majors. 
Graff,  1779. 
'Platte,  1782. 

Captains. 

Hessenmueller  [Hessemueller,  Eelking\,  i778,'79,'8i. 
2Neuman,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
WilHelm  Bode,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Hohenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Mertz,  1781. 

Lieutenants. 
von  Romrodt,  1778. 
Justi,  1778. 
Brauns,  1778. 
Hupeden,  1778,  '79. 
Mertz,  1778,  '79. 
Anton  von  Dalwigk,  1778,  '79. 

Munchnausen,  1778,  '79,  [Muehlhausen,  1779,  Eel- 
king},  >8i. 
3Oelnaus,  1778,  '79. 
Studenroth,  1778,  '79. 
von  Romrodt,  1779. 
von  Treyden,  1779. 

First  Lieutenants. 
von  Dalwigk,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Waldeck,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
3Fritsch,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Schenck,  1781. 

'The  command  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  of  Grenadiers,  late  Colonel  Graff's,  is 
conferred  on  Major  Platte,  regiment  Beunau. — Gainc's  New  York  Gazette,  Sep 
tember  2,  1782. 

HVounded  at  Fort  Washington,  November  16,  1776. — Gaine's  New  York 
Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 

8 Wounded  at  the  siege  of  Charleston. — Gaine's  New  York  Gazette,  June  12, 
1780. 


294  The  German  Allies 

von  Lahrbusch,  1781. 
Jung,  1781. 

Ensigns. 

Wiederhold,  1781. 
Schirnmelpfennig,  1781. 

Adjutant. 
Brauns,  1779,  '81. 

Quarter-Master. 

Bauer,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Surgeon. 
Henry  Koch,  1778,  '79. 


REGIMENT  DU  CORPS,  1778-1783. 

Major-  Generals. 

Baron  von  Losberg,  1778. 

Carl  Ernst  von  Bischausen,  1782,  '83.       Nov.  i,  '80. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Wurrnb,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  2,  '80. 

Colonels. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Wurmb,  1778-81. 

Otto  Christ.  Wilhelm  von  Linsing,  1783.    June  5,  '78. 

L  ieutenant-  Colonel. 
Otto  Christ.  Wilhelm  von  Linsing,  1782.    June  i,  '66. 

Majors. 

Biesenroth,  1778. 

Ludwig  Friedrich  von  Stamfurth,  17 79-83.  May  8,  '77. 
August  Eber.  von  Dincklage,  1782,  '83.     Nov.  5,  '80. 

Captains. 

August  Eber.  von  Dincklage,  1778. 

Waldenberg,  1778,  '79. 

Carl  Reinh.  von  Motz,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.    May  23,  '72. 


In  the   American   Revolution.  295 

Christ.  Matt.  Le  Long,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.    Feb.  26,  '76. 
Friedrich  Melchior  von  Milkau  [von  Abilkan,  Eel- 
king},  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  29,  '76. 
Christ.  Friedrich  von  Urff,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Nov.  23,  '76. 
Friedrich  Heinrich  von  Groening,  1781-83. 

May  14,  '80. 

Carl  von  Zenge,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  30,  '81. 

Johann  Mar.  Meltzhaimer,  1782,  '83.         Mar.  i,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 

Heinrich  Hegemann,  1778,  '79. 
Johann  Mar.  Meltzheimer,  1778,  '79. 
Heinrich  Ernst,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Christ.  Bode,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 

Angust  Wilhelm  von  Ende,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Just.  Ernst,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Carl  August  Kleinschmidt,  1778,  '82,  '83.  Feb.  2,  '76. 
Caspar  von  Groening,  1779,  '82,  '83.  Nov.  23,  '/6. 
Philipp  Peter  Ludemann,  1779,  '81-83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 
Johann  Anton  Germar,  1781,  '82.  May  14,  '80. 

Just.  Ernst,  1781. 

Bernhardt  Wilhelm Wiederhold,  1781-83.  May  15/80. 
Max.  Ludwig  von  Helmold,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 
Christ.  Friedrich  von  Lacken  [Sacken],  1783. 

Ensigns. 

Philipp  Peter  Ludemann,  1778. 
Johann  Anton  Germer,  1778,  '79. 
Bernhardt  Wilhelm  Wiederhold,  1778,  '79. 
Max.  Ludwig  von  Helmold,  1779,  '81. 
Christ.  Friedrich  von  Sacken  [Lacken],  1779,  '81,  '82. 

Oct.  22.  '77. 


296  The   German    Allies 

Caspar  Theo.  von  Dalwigk,  1779,  '81-83.  Nov.  12,  '77. 
Heinrich  von  der  Litt,  1779,  '81-83.  Mar.  26,  '78. 
von  Heimel,  1782.  Feb.  12,  '81. 

de  Cornberg,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  12,  '81,  Feb.  13,  '81. 
de  Stamford,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82. 

Adjutant. 

Caspar  von  Groening,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Quarter-Master. 
Jacob  [or  John]  Lotheisen,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Witte,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Chaplains. 
Schrecker,  1778. 
Wiedermann,  1777. 
Crepon,  1782. 

Surgeon. 
Friedrich  Waldeck,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 


WuTGENAU,  1776  [Eelking]. 
REGIMENT  LANDGRAVE,  1778-83. 

Major-  Generals. 
von  Bose,  1778. 
Heinrich  Jul.  von  Kospoth,  1782,  '83.     Sept.  26,  '78. 

Colonels. 

Heinricn  Jul.  von  Kospoth,  1778. 
Heinrich  Walrab  von   Keudell   [Budell  ?    Eelking], 

I779~83-  Dec-  25,  '77. 

Lieutenant-  Colonels. 

von  Romrodt,  1778. 

Friedrich  von  Hannstein,  1779-83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  297 

Majors. 

Friedricli  von  Hannstein,  1778. 
von  Ahrenberg,  1778,  '79. 
Friedrich  von  Eschwege,  1781-83.  Sept.  20,  '79. 

Captains. 
'Meddern  [1776]. 
Mondorff,  1778. 
Honlefeld,  1778. 
Gren  Minne,  1779-81. 
2Friedrich  Ernst  de  Muenchnausen,  1779,  '82,  '83. 

Mar.  31,  '76. 

Johann  Jacob  Vogt,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.     Feb.  22,  '77. 
Adam  Bauer,  1779. 
Wilhelm  von  Escnwege,  1779. 

Lndwig  Ebernard  Murarius,  1781-83.      Apr.  15,  '79. 
Johann  Con.  Ernst,  1781-83.  Sept.  30,  '79. 

Peter  Volpert,  1781-83.  Oct.  i,  '79. 

August  von  Kospoth,  1783.  Nov.  7,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 
'Lowensfield  [1776]. 
Von  Lendow  [1776]. 
Adam  Bauer,  1778. 
Juliaa,  1778. 
3Ludwig  Eberhard  Murarius,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 
4Peter  Volpert,  1778,  '79. 

JWounded  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  1776. — Gaines  New  York  Gazette, 
March  17,  1777. 

2Aid-de-Camp  to  Sir  William  Howe,  1777. — Macdonald  &*  Cameron's  Army 
List  for  1777. 

8Wounded  at  Rhode  Island,  August  29,  1778. — Almond's  Remembrancer, 
volume  vn,  page  36. 

4His  rank  is  determined  from  the  Army  List  of  1781,  where  he  appears  as 
First  Lieutenant  in  the  temporary  Battalion  of  the  Grenadier  der  Lengercke. 

38 


298  The   German    Allies 

August  von  Kospoth,  1778,  '79,  '82.  Feb.  24,  '77. 
Ludwig  von  Kospoth,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 
Carl  Goddeus,  1783.  Apr.  i,  '82. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Carl  Goddeus,  1778,  '79,  '81.  May  8,  '76. 

Franz  von  Ende,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  23,  '77. 
Carl  von  Seelhorst,  1779,  '81. 

Friedrich  von  Kospoth,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

Philipp  Wagener,  1781-83.  Feb.  13,  '79. 

Adolph  Friedrich  de  Zanthier,  1781-83.  Sep.  30,  '79. 

Julius  von  Klingsohr,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82. 

Eugen  Benjamin  von  Kliest,  1783.  Mar.  10,  '82. 

Georg  von  Rosing,  1783.  Mar.  n,  '82. 

Carl  Philip  Hannstein,  1783.  Mar.  12,  '82. 

Ensigns. 

Franz  von  Ende  [1776]. 
Carl  von  Seelhorst,  1778. 
Friedrich  von  Kospoth,  1778,  '79. 
Carl  von  Billingsleben,  1778,  '79. 
Philipp  Wagener,  1778,  '79. 
Adolph  Friedrich  von  Zanthier,  1778,  '79. 
de  Micklaskewitz,  1779. 
Julius  von  Klingsohr,  1779. 

Eugen  Benjamin  von  Kliest,  1781,  '82.  May  i,  '78. 
Georg  von  Roosing,  1781,  '82.  Nov.  8,  '78. 

Carl  Philipp  von  Hannstein,  1781,  '82.  Nov.  14,  '79. 
von  Berglassen,  1781-83.  Nov.  15,  '79. 

Carl  Schoenewolf,  1781-82.  Nov.  16,  '79. 

de  Nolden,  1781-83.  Mar.  21,  '80. 

August  von  Papenheim,  1781-83.  Apr.  7,  '80. 

Munschausen,  1783.  June  i,  '81. 

Adjutants. 
Peter  Volpert,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  299 

Julius  von  Klingsohr,  1781,  '82.  Feb.  26,  '78. 

August  von  Pappenheim,  1783. 

Chaplain. 
Stern,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Aug.  15,  '76. 

Quarter-Master. 
Bockewitz,  1779,  '81-83.  Jan.  i,  '78. 

Judge  Advocate. 
Meisterling,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  10,  '76. 

Surgeon. 
Ohlhaussen,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Sept.  23,  '71. 


REGIMENT  HEREDITARY  PRINCE,  1778-1783. 

Major-  Generals. 
Stirn,  1778. 
'Friedrich.  von  Hackenberg,  1782,  '83.     Sept.  19,  '79. 

Colonels. 

2Friedricn  von  Hackenburg,  1778,  '79. 
Friedrich  von  Kochenhausen,  1782,  '83.    Dec.  26,  '77. 

lLast  Wednesday  died,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one,  FREDERIC  BARON  DE  HACK 
ENBERG,  Major  General  in  the  service  of  his  Serene  Highness  the  Landgrave 
of  Hesse,  and  Knight  of  the  Most  Honourable  Order,  Pour  la  Virtue  Mili- 
taire.  He  with  great  probity,  and  steady  courage,  served  the  House  of 
Hesse  Cassel  forty  two  years,  ever  having  the  glory  of  his  Prince  and  the 
British  Nation,  the  constant  ally  of  his  Serene  Highness,  immediately  at 
heart.  He  was  hospitable,  candid,  good  natured;  in  short,  he  always  proved 
himself  a  true  Philanthropist.  He  was  universally  beloved,  and  it  may  be 
truly  added  that  few  have  left  the  world  more  generally  regretted,  by  the 
Military,  and  the  Citizens  of  New  York,  than  the  late  a'miable  General  le 
Baron  de  Hackenberg.  His  remains,  with  the  usual  marks  of  distinction 
due  to  Nobility,  and  all  the  Military  honours,  were,  on  Thursday,  deposited 
in  the  Lutheran  Church  vault,  Frankford  street,  attended  by  a  very  numer 
ous,  affectionate  and  truly  mournful  procession. — Gaines  New  York  Gazette, 
September  I,  1783. 

2To  be  Brigadier-General.— Gaine's  New  York  Gazette,  July  12,  1779. 


300  The  German  Allies 

L  ieutenan  t-  Colonels. 

Friedricli  von  Kochenhausen,  1778,  '79. 
'Matthew  von  Fuchs,  1781-83.  Sept.  19,  '79. 

Majors. 

Matthew  von  Fuchs,  1778-80. 
1  Peter  Melick  Waldenberger,  1781-83.    Sept.  19,  '79. 

Captains. 
'Ludwig  Friedrich  von  Gall,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Christoph  Laun,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.         {  p^  Is,  '77.' 

Heinrich  Friedrich  Wachs,  1782,  '83.         Mar.  2,  '74. 
von  Schaller,  1778,  '79,  'Si,  '83.  Feb.  26,  '77. 

'Kiimmell,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  i,  '77. 

Adolph  Fr.  von  Eschwege,  1779. 
'Herman  Christoph  Gebhard,  1779,  '81-83. 

Nov.  15,  '77. 

Joachim  Kimm,  1782,  '83  [Grirnm — Eelking,  volume 

n,  page  252].  Nov.  2,  '80. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Haller,  1783.         Mar.  9,  '82. 

Lieutenants. 

Friedrich  von  Eschwege,  1778. 
von  Boyneburg,  1778. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Haller,  1779,  '81,  '82. 

Nov.  10,  '77. 

Ernst  Wolfe  Briede,  1783.  Feb.  10,  '82. 

Andreas  Ludwig  Descoudres,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82. 

'Bauer. 
'Kummel. 
'Gebhard. 
1  Grimm. 

Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  n,  page  252. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  301 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Ernst  Wolfe  Briede,  1778-82.  Feb.  i,  '76. 

Andreas  Ludwig  Descoudres,  1778,  '82.  Feb.  2,  '76. 
'Ernst  August  Westerhagen,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  3,  '76. 
'Ernst  Wilhelm  Andersohn,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  26,  '76. 

Friedrich  Graw,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  Feb.  22,  '77. 

'Friedrich  von  Keudell,  1779,  '81-83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 
'Rhein  Fried.  Ungewitter,  1781-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 
Jacob  Diedrich  Pfaff,  1781-83.  May  28,  '80. 

Georg  Ludwig  Motz,  1783. 

Ensigns. 

Friedrich  von  Keudell,  1778. 

Rhein  Friedricli  Ungewitter,  1778,  '79. 

Jacobus  Diedrich  Pfaff,  1778,  '79. 

'Georg  Ludwig  Motz,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.    Feb.  23,  '77. 

'Christian  von  Hoening,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83. 

Apr.  21,  '77;  Apr.  25,  '77. 

'Valentine  Schoenewolff,  1779,  '81-83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 
Descoudres,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  8,  '80. 

Winicke,  1782,  '83.  "  Jan.  9,  '81. 

Ludwig,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  23,  '81. 

Adjutants. 
Kimm,  1778. 
Christian  von  Hoening,  1779,  '81-83. 

Quarter-Master. 
'Ludwig,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Plumque,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  u,  page  252. 


302  The  German  Allies 

Chaplain. 

'Hausknecht,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Surgeons. 

Avemann,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
'Francis  Aug.  Baur,  1783. 


REGIMENT  PRINCE  CHARLES,  1778-1783. 

Major-  Generals. 
Schmidt,  1778. 
Carl  Uphraim  von  Gosen,  1782,  '83.        June  12,  '80. 

Colonel. 

Johann  Wilhelm  Schreiber,  1778-83.       June  21,  '76. 
Lieutenant-  Colonels. 

r\  T-V  T  1  o       >o        (  Tune  JQi  '76. 

Georg  Eman.  von  Lengerke,  1782,  '83.  |^       2g|  >^8> 

Wilhelm  von  Loewenstein,  1778-80,      /June  22,  '76. 

'82, '83.1  June   i, '78. 

Majors. 

Carl  August  von  Kutzleben,  1778-83.      Feb.  25,  '77. 
Wilhelm  von  Wilmousky,  1782,  '83.       Sept.  22,  '79. 

Captains. 

Wilhelm  von  Wilmousky,  1778. 

Johann  Jacob  Fischer,  1778-83.  Jan.  28,  '77. 
3Heinrich  Wilhelm  Renting,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83. 
Jan.  29,  >77- 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktown.—  Eelking,  volume  n,  page  252. 

2  Surrendered  at  Yorktown  and  died  of  his  wounds. — Ibid. 

3  Resigned  the  Town  Majorship  of  New  York  city.—Gaine's  New  York  Ga- 
tette,  November  30,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  303 

Friedrich  Adolph  Neuber,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  23,  '77  ;  ,  '79. 

Johann  August  Gerstman,  1779,  '81-83.  Nov.  n,'77. 
'Theodor  Hart  Harkert,  1779,  '81-83.  Apr.  14,  '78. 
Balthasar  Spangenberg,  1781-83.  Nov.  18,  '79. 

Martin  Beckers,  1781-83.  Feb.  8,  '80. 

Lieutenants. 

Hartel,  1778  [Theodor  Hart  Harkert]. 
Johann  August  Gerstman,  1778. 
Heinrich  Schmidt,  1778. 
Ferdinand  von  Trott,  1778,  '79. 
Balthasar  Spangenberg,  1779. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Johann  Philip  Schmidt,  1783.  Feb.  i,  '76. 

Ludwig  Otto  Carl  von  Dornberg,  1783.  Feb.  2,  '76. 
Carl  Georg  Rhein.  von  Trott,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 
Johann  Carl  W.  S.  von  Westphall,  1782,  '83. 

Feb.  8,  '80. 

Wilhelm  Carl  Ludwig  von  Geyso,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83. 

Oct.  i,  '80. 
Second  Lieutenants. 

Heinrich  von  Trott,  1781,  '82.  Feb.  i,  '77. 

Carl  Wilhelm  Christ.  Friederich  von  Trott,  Jr.,  1783. 

Feb.  i,  '77. 

Barthold  Kroll,  1781-83.  Nov.  12,  '78. 

Friedrich  Adolph  Martin  Becker,  1782,  '83. 

Dec.  17,  '78. 

Carl  Wilhelm  von  Trott,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

von  Eptingen,  1783. 

Ensigns. 
Barthold  Kroll,  1778,  '79. 

'Died  on  August  7th,  1783,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  New 
York  city. — Gaine's  New  York  Gazette,  August  13,  1783. 


304  The  German  Allies 

Friedricli  Adolph  Martin  Becker,  1778,  '79. 
1  von  Bouilly,  1779. 

Carl  Willielm  von  Trott,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Philipp  Peter  Schmidt,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.    Feb.  22,  '77. 
von  Eptingen,  1781,  '82.  Jan.  13,  '78. 

CHristoph  Roesing,  1779,  '81-83.  June  18,  '78. 

Apell,  1783.  Mar.  25,  '82. 

Adjutants. 

Hartel,  1778  [Theodor  Hart  Harkert]. 

Christopri  Roesing,  1779. 

Friedricli  Adolph  Martin  Becker,  1781,  '83. 

von  Eptingen,  1782.  Jan.  13,  '78. 

Quarter-Master. 
Heinrich  Pfaff,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Apr.  20,  '56. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Plumque,  1782. 

Chaplain. 
Hausknecht,  1782. 

Surgeon. 
Bauer,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Jan.  28,  '76. 


REGIMENT  DITTFURTH,  1778-1783. 

Lieutenant-General. 

Mil.  Max.  von  Dittfnrth,  1782,  '83.  May  26,  '71. 

Colonels. 

Max  von  Westerhagen,  1778-83.  May  8,  '77. 

Friedricli  Heinricli  von  Schuler,  1782,  '83. 

May  24,  '78. 

1  Discharged  at  his  own  request,  by  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse. — Robertsons 
Orderly  Book,  November  21,  1780, 


In  the  American   Revolution.  305 

L  ieu  tenant-  Colonels. 
Friedricli  Heinrich  von  Schuler,  1778,  '79,  J8i. 

May  24,  '78- 
Ernst  Leopold  von  Bork,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  3,  '80. 

Majors. 

Ernst  Leopold  von  Bork,  1778-81. 
Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Malsburg,  1782,  '83. 

Nov.  2,  '80. 
Captains. 

Ludwig  Reichell  [Berchell,  Eelking\,  1778,  '79. 

'Engerding,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Nicholas  Frederick  Klingender,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83. 

Mar.  4,  '74. 

Friedricli  Wilhelm  von  Malsburg,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Wilhelm  von  Malsburg,  1779,  '81-83.     Nov.  12,  '77. 
Heinrich  Hugo  Scheffer,  1781-83.  Feb.  9,  '80. 

Georg  Ernst  Topfer,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  3,  '80. 

3  von  Rabenau,  1782. 
Arnold  Wilhelm  von  Haller,  1783.  Sept.  7,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 

Wilhelm  von  Malsburg,  1778. 
Heinrich  Hugo  SchaeSer,  1778,  '79. 
Wilhelm  L.  Franz  von  Dittfurth,  1778,  '79. 
Christian  von  Bose,  1778,  '79. 
Franz  Ferdinand  von  Bardeleben,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Carl  Levin  Marquard,  1783.  Feb.  2,  '76. 

1  On  the  I3th  of  June  last,  died  at  Charles-Town,  South  Carolina,  Capt. 
EDDERGING,  of  the  Hessian  Regiment  of  Dittfourth,  greatly  regretted  as  a 
good  officer  and  much  lamented  by  those  who  were  acquainted  with  his  pri 
vate  character.  —  Gainers  New  York  Gazette,  August  6,  1781. 

2  Died  in  New  York,  November  30,  1782. — Gaine's  New  York  Gazette,  De 
cember  2,  1782. 

39 


306  The  German  Allies 

Arnold  Wilhelm  von  Haller,  1782.  Feb.  8,  '80. 

von  Rabenau,  1782.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Second  L  ieu tenan ts. 

Arnold  Wilhelm  von  Haller,  1778,  '79,  Si. 
Carl  Levin  Marquard,  1778,  '81,  '82.  '       Feb.  2,  '76. 
Leon  Wilhelm  von  Trumbach,  1778,  '79,  81-83. 

Feb.  3,  '76. 
Adolph  Frederick  Duncker,  1779,  '81-83. 

Feb.  22,  '77. 
von  Bardeleben,  1781. 

Georg  Hermann  Vultejus,  1781-83.  Apr.  10,  '78. 
Peter  Christopher  Firnhaber,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  8,  '80. 
Heinrich  A.  von  Schachten,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  9,  '80. 
Friedrich  von  Buttlar,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Heinrich  Lorey,  1782,  '83.     Mar.  7,  '81  ;  Mar.  8,  'Si. 

Ensigns. 
Dunker,  1778. 

Georg  Hermann  Vultejus,  1778. 
Peter  Christopher  Firnhaber,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Heinrich  A.  von  Schachten,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Strasser,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Friedrich  von  Buttlar,  1779,  '81,  '82. 
Heinrich  Lorey,  1781. 

'Carl  Wetzell,  1781-83.  Mar.  21,  'So. 

Friedrich  Lange,  1782,  '83.  July  10,  '80. 

Carl  von  Buttlar,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  27,  'Si. 

Amabilis  von  Zehnien,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  i,  'Si. 

Wilhelm  von  Brunn,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  2,  'Si. 

Franz  Martins,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  28,  'Si. 

Buttlar,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82. 

Quarter-Master. 
Cornelius  Wende,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Died  at   Charleston,   South   Carolina,   August    25. — Rivins;tons  Gazette, 
October  2,  1782. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  307 

Adjutant. 
Georg  Hermann  Voltejus,  1779,  '83. 

Surgeon. 
Limbergen,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 


REGIMENT  LOSBERG,  SENIOR,  1778-1783. 

Lieutenant-General* 

von  Losberg,  1783.  Oct.  25,  '72. 

Major-  General. 
Johann  August  von  Loos,  1783. 

Colonels. 

Franz  Schaeffer,  1783.  June  7,  '77. 

1  JoHann  August  von  Loos,  1778-82.        May  22,  '78. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonels. 

Franz  Schaeffer,  1778-82.  Jan.  24,  '76. 

von  Losberg,  1782,  '83. 

Majors. 

Lewis  Aug.  von  Hannstein,  1778-82.       Feb.  24,  '77. 

i!       '77- 


Ernst  Eber.  Altenbockum,  1782,  '83.  ,- 

Captains. 
2  von  Benning. 

2  von  Reise. 

3  Ernst  Eber  Altenbockum,  1778,  '79,  J8i. 

Jonann  Reid  Mondorff,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  20,  '76. 

von  Steding,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  25,  '76. 

von  Wurmb,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  24,  '77. 

'See  New  York  Historical  Society  Collections,  1875.  p.  113. 
2  Killed  at  Trenton.  —  Eelkivg,  vol.  I,  p.  130. 
8  Wounded  at  Trenton  —  Eelking,  vol.  i,  p.  130. 


308  The  German    Allies 

Friedricli  Wilhelm  Krafft,  1779,  '81-83.  Dec.  26,  '77. 
Marquard,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  21,  '80. 

Ernst  Christian  Schwabe,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  i,  '81. 

Jacob  Biel,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  2,  '81. 

Heinrich  Hegeman,  1782,  '83.  j  gj;  J||  ',j£ 

Lieutenant. 

1  Kirnm. 

First  Lieutenants. 

2  von  Wurmb  [1776]. 
Friedricli  Wilhelm  Krafft,  1778. 
Keller,  1778. 

von  Miinchhausen,  1782,  '83.  Aug.  17,  '76. 

von  Hoben,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  9,  '80;  Nov.  n,  '80. 

Henry  Reim  Hille,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  12,  '80. 

3  Hermann  Heinrich  Georg  Zoll,  1782,  '83. 

Nov.  9  and  19,  '80. 
William  von  Uslar,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  21,  '80. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
von  Stoben,  1778. 
von  Gluer,  1778,  '79. 

4  Schwabe,  1778-81. 
Jacob  Biel,  1778-81. 

Hermann  Heinrich  Georg  Zoll,  1778-81. 

Moeller,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  3,  '76. 

von  Hoben,  1779,  '80. 

Franz  Grebe,  1781/83.  Nov.  7,  '80. 

C.  von  Waldschmidt,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  10,  '80. 

Georg  Kress,  1781/83.  Nov.  n,  '80. 

Carl  Friedrich  von  Lnder,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  13,  '80. 

1  Killed  at  Trenton. — Eelking,  vol.  I,  p.  130, 

2  Wounded  at   Fort  Washington,    November   16,    1776 — Gaine's  New  York 
Gazelle,  March  17,  1777. 

3  Wounded  at  Trenton. — Eelking,  vol.  i,  p.  130. 

4  Wounded  at  Trenton — Eelking,  vol.  i,  p.  130. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  309 

Ensigns. 

Franz  Grebe,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

von  Zengen,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  2,  '76. 

3  Hennendorff,  1778-81. 
C.  von  Waldscnmidt,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Georg  Kress,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Rathmann,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Apr.  24,  '77. 

Stendorf,  1779. 

von  Roven,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  26,  '78. 

Gottlieb  Waldeck,  1779,  '81,  '82.  July  15,  '78. 

Carl  FriedricH  von  Luder,  1781. 
Recordon,  1781-83.  Aug.  i,  '79. 

Zoll,  1782. 

Mueller,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  2,  '80. 

Stegmann,  1782,  '83.  Oct.  26,  '80. 

Adjutant. 
Jacob  Biel  [or  Piel],  1779-83. 

Quarter-Master. 
John  Heusser,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Surgeon. 
Oliva,  1778,  '79,/8i-83. 


REGIMENT  LOSBERG,  JUNIOR,  1782,  1783. 

Lieutenant-  General. 
Baron  Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Losberg,  1782,  '83. 

Mar.  7,  '81. 
Colonel. 
Carl  Cnristoph  von  Romrod,  1782,  '83.     Dec.  24,  '77. 

3  Transferred  to  the  Third  Battalion,  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  as  Ensign,  Feb 
5,  1782.—  Von  Kraff's  Journal,  New  York  Historical  Society's  Collection,  1882, 
p.  170.  Rivington's  Army  List,  1783. 


310  The  German  Allies 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 

Hans  von  Biesenrod,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  26,  '77. 

Major. 

Emanuel  Ernst  Anton  von  Wilniousky,  1782,  '83. 

Feb.  22,  '77. 

Carl  Leopold  Bauermeister,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  26,  '77. 

Captains. 

Ludwig  Maive  von  Mallet,  1782,  '83.  Oct.  16,  '68. 

Johann  M.  Rothe,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  16,  '76. 

Ludolpli  Rodemann,  1782.  Dec.  27,  '77. 

Carl  von  Toll,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  28,  '77. 

Friedrich  August  Broeske,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  6,  '81 


Jotann  C.  Schraidt,  1782,  '83.  >  ,'8i- 

Johann  Reid  Rodemaii,  1783. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Lewis  Wilhelm  August  von  Boyneburg,  '1782,  '83. 

Jan.  6,  'Si. 

Carl  Friedrich  Rueffer,  1782,  '83.  Sept.  5,  'Si. 

Johann  Georg  Wissemuller,  1783.  Mar.  25,  '82. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Johann  Georg  Wiesenmueller,  1782.  Dec.  24,  '77. 

Friedrich  von  Biesenrod,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  25,  '77. 

W.  V.  Buelzingsloerven,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  26,  '77. 

Ehrhard  von  Drach,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  27,  '77. 

Hieronymus  Berner,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  28,  '77. 

Georg  Bern  Kersting,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  29,  '77. 

Rudolph  Wilhelm  Duncker,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  30,  '77. 

Ludwig  Martin  Wiscker,  1782  '83.  {  Jan*  *'  Jj 

[Jan.  6,  81 

Carl  von  Ehrenstein,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82 


In  the  American  Revolution.  311 

Ensigns. 

Carl  von  Ehrenstein,  1782.  Oct.  18,  '77. 

Heinrich  Lange,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 

Friedrich  Fey,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  13,  '78. 

von  Bode,  1782,  '83.  Dec.  2,  '79. 

Chaplain. 
Virnau,  1782. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Hynemann,  1782. 

Adjutant. 
Carl  Friedrich  Rneffer,  1782,  '83. 

Quarter-Master. 
August  Schmidt,  1782. 

Surgeon. 
Conrad  Gechter,  1782. 


REGIMENT  KNYPHAUSEN,  1778-1783. 

L  ieii  tenant-  General. 
Baron  Wilhelm  von  Knyphausen,  1778-83. 

Sept.  22,  '75. 
Colonel. 

'Heinrich  von  Borc'k,  1778-83.  Jan.  20,  '76. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 
Carl  Philipp  Heymell,  1778-81. 
von  Knyphausen,  1782. 

Majors. 

'von  Dichow  [1776]. 

Johann  Friedrich  von  Stein,  1778-83.       Feb.  27,  '77. 
Georg  Wilhelin  von  Biesenroth,  1783.        May  6,  '77. 

JWounded  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  1776.     Gaines  New  York  Gazette, 
March  if,  7777. 


312  The  German  Allies 

Captains. 

'Arnold  Schlemmer. 
2Barkhausen  [1776]. 

Ludwig  Willielm  von  Lowenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Georg  Willielm  von  Biesenroth,  1782.     Mar.  29,  '62. 
Schimmelpfennig,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  9,  '76. 

Christoph  Philipp  Reuffurth,  1779,  '81-83. 

Feb.  24,  '76,  Dec.  24,  '77. 

Jacob  Baum,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  21,  '77. 

Andreas  Wiedernold,  1781-83.  Nov.  12,  '78. 

Vaupell,  1781-83.  Nov.  16,  '79. 

3Hon.  Bennet  Wallop,  1781-83.  April  23,  '80. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Vaupell,  1778. 

Heinrich.  Friedrich  Zinck,  1782,  '83.         Feb.  22,  '77. 
Christian  Sobbe,  1782,  83.  April  5,  '77. 

4John  F.  William  Briede,  1782,  '83. 

—,1777;  Feb.  6, '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Cnristoph  Philipp  Reuffurth,  1778. 
de  Terry,  1778,  '79. 
Andreas  WiederHold,  1778,  '79. 
Willielm  Heymell,  1779. 

Lndwig  von  Romrodt,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  June  13,  '74. 
von  Bassewitz,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  June  10,  '75. 

Johann  Heymell,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  i,  '76. 

Fuhrer,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  Feb.  2,  '76. 

lSte  Regiment  de  Seitz. 

2Killed  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  1776.  Gaine's  New  York  Gazette, 
March  77,  7777. 

3To  be  Major  of  Brigade  of  Provincial  Forces,  Nov.  5,  1780. — Robertson's 
Orderly  Book.  Fourth  son  of  John  Viscount  Lymington,  grandson  of  the 
first  Earl  of  Portsmouth,  born  Jan.  20,  1745,  died  Feb.  12,  1815. — Foster's 
Peerage. 

4Wounded  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  1776. — Gaine's  New  York  Gazette, 
March  77,  7777. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  313 

Zinck,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  22,  '77. 

Geysow,  1782.  Feb.  22,  '77. 

Christian  Sobbe,  1778,  '79,  82,  '83.  April  5,  '77. 

Johann  F.  Wilhelm  Briede,  1778,  '79-81. 

1777,  Feb.  6,  '81. 

August  or  Anton  von  Liitzow,  1781-83.    Nov.  16,  '79. 
von  Ruger,  1781-83.  Mar.  i,  '80. 

Wilhelm  von  Drach,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  24,  '80. 

Heinrich  Zimmermann,  1782,  '83.  Sept.  5,  '81. 

Heinrich  Ritter,  1782,  '83.  Sept.  6,  '81. 

Ensigns. 
'Fuhrer,  1778. 

August  or  Anton  von  Liitzow,  1778,  '79. 
Wilhelm  von  Drach,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Heinrich  Zimmermann,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Heinrich  Ritter,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Ferdinand  Ungar,  1781-83.  Feb.  25,  '78. 

Wilhelm  von  Miiller,  1781-83.  Mar.  i,  '80. 

Ronneberg,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Quarter-Masters. 

Mathias  Miiller,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Lewis  Schmidt,  1782. 
Pausch,  1783. 

Chaplain. 

Wilhelm  Bauer,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Adjutant. 
Christian  Sobbe,  1779,  '81-83. 

Surgeon. 
Wilhelm  Pausch,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82. 

1  His  portrait  was  fixed  to  the  gallows  in  New  York  as  a  deserter,  Oct.  I, 
1781. —  Von  Krafffs  Journal^  New  York  Historical  Society's  Collections,  1882. 

40 


314  The  German  Allies 

REGIMENT  MIRBACH,  1778-1781. 

Major-  General. 

von  Mirbach,  1778. 

Colonels. 
von  Block,  1778. 
Carl  von  Romrodt,  1779-81. 

Lieutenant-  Colonels. 
Tvon  Schieck  [1776,  '77]. 
Hans  Moutz  von  Biesenroth,  1779-81. 

Majors. 

von  Willmonsky,  1778-81. 
2Banermeister,  1778,  '79. 

Captains. 
Endmann,  1778. 
Scnotten,  1778. 

David  Reichhold,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Rothe,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Rodemann,  1779,  '81. 
von  Toll,  1779,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 
von  Toll,  1778. 
Schraydt,  1778,  '79. 

Wilhelm  Angust  von  Boynebnrgh,  1778,  '79. 
3Carl  Friedrich  RiifFer,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Broetke,  1781. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Wiesenmiiller,  1779,  'Si. 
Hans  Priedrich  von  Biesenroth,  1779,  '81. 

tilled  at  Red  Bank. — Eelking,  vol.  i,  p.  222. 

2A.  D.  C.  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  1779-82. 

8Wounded  at  Red  Bank. — Eelking,  volume  I,  page  222. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  315 

von  Bulzenflower,  1779,  '81. 
Ehrhard  von  Drach,  1779,  '81. 
Hierpnymus  Berner,  1779,  '81. 
Martin  Ludwig  Wisker,  1781. 
von  Boyneburgh,  1781. 

Ensigns. 

Wiesenmiiller,  1778. 
Hans  Friedrich  von  Biesenroth,  1778. 
von  Bulzenflower,  1778. 
Enrhard  von  Drach,  1778. 
Hieronymns  Berner,  1778. 
Martin  Ludwig  Wisker,  1779. 
Carl  von  Ehrenstein,  1779,  '81. 
Heinrich  Friedricn  Lange,  1779,  'Si. 
Ungar,  1779. 
Fey,  1779,  >8i. 

Adjutant. 
Carl  Friedricri  Riiffer,  1779,  >8i. 

Chaplain. 
Fernau,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Quarter-Master. 
August  Schmidt,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Heinemann,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Surgeons. 

Conrad  TaecHer,  1778,  '79. 
Gechter,  1781. 

NOTE. — The  following  officers  belonging  either  to  the  Regiment  Mirbach 
or  the  Grenadier  Battalions  of  Minnigerode  or  Linsing  or  to  the  Jager 
Corps,  to  which  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  were  killed  at  the  attack  on  Red 
Bank:  Captains  von  Brogatzky  and  Wagener,  Lieutenants  Riemann,  du  Puy, 
von  Wurmb,  Hille,  von  Offenbach,  and  Heymel. 

Lieut.  Gottschalk  was  severely  wounded  at  the  same  attack. 


316  The  German  Allies 

REGIMENT  STEYN,  1778. 
REGIMENT  VON  SEITZ,  1779-1783. 

Colonel. 
Franz  Carl  von  Seitz,  1778-82.  Feb.  28,  '74. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 
'Arnold  Schlemmer,  1778. 

Carl  von  Kutzel,  1780-83.  Feb.  3,  '76. 

{Army  rank,  Col.,  Nov.  3,  '80.] 

^     rr  Majors. 

Graft,  1778. 

Lndwig  von  Schallern,  1779-83.    Regt.,  April  13,  '77. 

[Army  rank,  Lt.-Col.,  Nov.  6,  '80.] 

Johann  Newmann,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  8,  '80. 

Captains. 

Friedrich  Platte,  1778. 
Joliann  Newmann,  1778. 
von  Ende,  1778,  '79. 

G  Langenschwarz,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Sept  7,  '75. 
Andreas  Sandrock,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  12,  '76. 
Wilhelrn  Bode,  1778,  '79,  ,81-83.  Mar.  13,  '76. 

Christian  Miincli,  1781-83.  Dec.  14,  '78. 

Wilhelrn  Justi,  1781. 
Andreas  Oelnaus,  1781. 
Henklemann,  1781. 

1  On  Wednesday  last  died,  at  52  Years  of  Age,  after  four  days'  Illness,  of 
an  Inflammatory  Fever,  Lieut.  Colonel  Arnold  Schlemmer,  a  Native  of 
Hershfeld,  in  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  he  served  his  Serene  Highness,  the 
Landgrave,  thirty-eight  years,  particularly  in  the  Campaigns  of  Bavaria,  in 
1742,  1743,  1744,  1745;  in  Scotland,  in  1746;  in  Holland,  in  1747,  1748;  in 
England,  in  1756;  with  the  Allied  Army  in  Germany,  from  1757  to  1762,  and 
in  1776  to  the  Day  of  his  Death  in  North  America;  from  a  just  sense  of  his 
great  military  Abilities,  his  Prince  promoted  him  from  the  Rank  of  Captain, 
in  the  Regiment  of  his  Excellency  General  de  Kniphausen,  to  that  of  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  in  the  Regiment  de  Seitz,  just  before  the  Embarkation  of  that 
Corps  for  this  Continent;  he  has  left  a  Widow  and  one  Son,  an  Infant.  His 
Remains  were  on  Thursday  last  interred  with  the  military  honours  due  to 
his  Rank;  he  was  as  brave  a  Soldier,  and  as  respectable  a  Gentleman  as 
ever  existed. — Gaines'  New  York  Gazette,  August  5,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  317 

Lieutenants. 
'Swein  [1776]. 
von  Romrodt,  1778. 
Vilmer,  1778. 
Buebach,  1778. 
von  Freyden,  1778. 
Christian  Munch,  1778,  '79. 
Henklemann,  1778,  '79 
von  Lahrbusch,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Wilhelm  Justi,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  Feb  23,  '77. 

Andreas  Oelhaus,  1778,  '82,  '83.  Dec.  24,  '77. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Johann  Knies,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  23,  '77. 

Georg  [or  Johann  Heinrich]  Fenner,  1779,  '82,  '83. 

Dec.  26,  '77. 

Rhein.  Jung,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  12,  '78. 

Ludwig  Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Boyneburgh,  1781-83. 

Dec.  13,  '78. 

Vieth,  1781,  '82.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

Johann  Paul,  1781-83.  Dec.  14,  '78. 

Johann  Koerber,  1782.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Conrad  Stolzenbach,  1782.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Ensigns. 

Bernhard  Sturtz,  1778. 
Albus,  1778. 

Georg  [or  Johann  Heinrich]  Fenner,  1778. 
Rhein.  Jung,  1778,  '79. 
Vieth,  1778,  '79. 

Ludwig  Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Boyneburgh,  1779. 
Johann  Paul,  1779. 


filled  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  i^b.—Gaines'  New   York  Gazette, 
March  17,  1777. 


318  The   German    Allies 

Johann  Koerber,  1779,  '81,  '83.  Jan.  2,  '78. 

Conrad  Stolzenbach,  1779,  '81.  Feb.  26,  '78. 

Emantiel  Maus,  1781-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

Georg  Langenschwartz,  1781-83.  Dec.  15,  '78. 

Petri,  1781-83.  Feb.  13,  '79. 

Otter,  1782.  July  10,  '80. 

Hunerdorf,  1782.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Adjutants. 

Johann  Kneis,  1778,  '79. 

Georg  [or  Johann  Heinrich]  Fenner,  1781,  '82. 

Quarter-Master. 
Spangenberg,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Franke,  1778. 

Kummell,  1778. 

Surgeon. 

Hellmerich,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 


REGIMENT  WISSENBACK,  1778-1780. 
REGIMENT  KNOBLAUCH,  1781-1783. 

Major-General. 
Hans  von  Knoblauch,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  19,  '80. 

Colonel. 
Friedrich  von  Borbeck,  1778-80,  '82,  '83.   July  n,  '80, 

L  ieu  tenant-  Colonels. 
von  Kilzell,  1778,  '79. 
Friedrich  von  Borbeck,  1781. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  319 

Majors. 

Johann  Georg  Seelig,  1778-80. 

Johann  Otto  Goebell,  1780-83.  Nov.  12,  '78. 

Johann  Christian  von  Ende,  1781-83.     June  12,  '80. 

Captains. 
Oswald,  1778. 
Germer,  1778. 

Gunthermann,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Georg  Hoenstein,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  6,  '76. 

Jacob  Boediker,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar-  20,  '76. 

Hupeden,  1778,  '79,  '82.  Jnly  15,  '78. 

Wilhelm  Heinrich  Hegemann,  1781-83.  Nov.  15,  '79. 
Johann  Anton  von  Darwigk,  1781-83.  July  10,  '80. 
Samuel  Waldeck,  1783.  Mar.  28,  '81. 

Lieutenants. 
Stippich,  1778. 
Kleyensteuber,  1778. 
Conrad  Koerber,  1778,  '79. 
Wilhelm  Heinrich.  Hegemann,  1778,  '79. 
Resing,  1778,  '79. 
Lotz,  1778,  '79. 
Biermann,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Ludwig  Knoblauch,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  21,  '80. 

Christoph  Goebell,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  22,  '80. 

Georg  Schenck,  1782,  '83.   '  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Johann  Christoph  Koerber,  '81-83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Christoph  Goebell,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Johann  Christoph  Koebler,  1779. 
Koerber,  Jr.,  1781. 
Heinrich  Abel,  1781-83.  June  16,  '79. 


32O  The  German  Allies 

Carl  Ludwig  Gessner,  1781-83.  Nov.  16,  '79. 

Bernliardt  Justi,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  21,  '80. 

Rud.  Reinhard  Dick,  1782,  '83.  Sept.  15,  '80. 

Peternell,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  2,  '80. 

Heinricli  Stiickradt,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  3,  '80. 

Friedrich  Cordemann,  1782.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Schimmelfennig,  1783.  May  25,  '81. 

Ensigns. 

Georg  Schenck,  1778. 
Koerber,  Jr.,  1778,  '79. 
Carl  Ludwig  Gessner,  1778,  '79. 
Heinricli  Abel,  1778,  '79. 
Bernliardt  Justi,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Mathsens,  1779. 

Rnd.  Reinhard  Dick,  1779,  '81. 
Weissenborn,  1781. 
Peternell,  1781. 
Heinricli  Stiickradt,  1781. 

Scliinimelpfennig,  1782.  June  i,  '80. 

Johann  Dietrich,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Simon  Vockerotn,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  2,  '80. 

Andreas  Wagener,  1782.  Mar.  n,  '81. 

Hartmann  Scheuber,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  12,  '81. 

Chaplain. 
Grimmel,  1779,  '81-83. 

Adjutants. 

Conrad  Koerber,  1778,  '79. 
Carl  Ludwig  Gessner,  1783. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Schanz,  1779,  '81-83. 

Quarter-Master. 
Pfluger,  1778,  '79. 

Surgeon. 
Krupp,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 


In    the  American   Revolution.  321 

REGIMENT  WOELLWARTH,  1778. 
REGIMENT  TRUMBACH,  1779,  1780. 

GRENADIER  REGIMENT  MARQUIS  D'ANGELELLI, 

1781-1783. 

Lieu  tenant-General. 
Louis  d'Angelelli,  1781,  '83.  Mar.  4,  '77. 

Colonels. 

von  Woellwarth,  1778. 

Johann  CHristoph  Kochler,  1779-81.       Sept.  18,  '78. 

Halzfeld,  1783.  Mar.  7,  '82. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 

Johann  Wilhelm  Endemann,  1781,  '8^.     Nov.  8,  '80. 

Majors. 

Matliseus,  1778,  '79. 
1  Jonann  Wilhelm  Endemann,  1779-81. 
Johann  Jost,  1780. 

Johann  Eckiiard  Bode,  1782.  Mar.  9,  '80. 

Friedricli  Wilhelm  Bode,  1783.  Nov.  9,  '80. 

Captains. 
Coecking,  1778. 
Goebell,  1778,  '79. 
Feetz,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Staebeli,  1779,  '81. 
von  Griesheim,  1781. 

Johann  Adam  Bauer,  1781-83.  Apr.  10,  '78. 

Giesell,  1781.  Oct.  6,  '78. 

Greg.  Salzmann,  1779,  '81-83.  Nov.  17,  '79. 

Friedricli  Heinrich  Widekind,  1781-83. 

Nov.  20,  '79. 

1  Wounded  at  Stono  Ferry,  S.  C.,  June  30,  1779. — Almoris  Remembrancer, 
vol.  8,  page  302. 

41 


322  The    German   Allies 

Johann  Clir.  Miilhausen,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  8,  '80. 

Carl  von  Dalwigk,  1783.  Mar.  7,  '82. 

Lieutenants. 
Staebeli,  1778. 
Greg.  Salzmann,  1778. 
1  Friedricli  Heinrich  Widekind,  1778,  '79. 
'von  Griesheim,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 
2De  Mny,  1779,  '81. 

Carl  von  Dalwigk,  1781.  Nov.  16,  '79. 

Wilhelm  Studenroth,  1781/83.  Nov.  8,  '80. 

Carl  Andreas  Kienen,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  9,  '80. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Carl  Andreas  Kienen,  Sen.,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Carl  Andreas  Kienen,  Jr.,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Wilhelm  Studenroth,  1779,  '81. 
Wernicke,  1779,  '81. 
Christoph  Friedricli  Goebell,  Sen.,  1781,  '83. 

Mar.  21,  '76. 

Eberhard,  1781.  Oct.  6,  '78. 

Gippert,   1781.  Oct.  7,  '78. 

Boppe,  1781.  Dec.  25,  '78. 

Eschtnith,  1781.  Dec.  26,  '78. 

Liebrecht  Fleck,  1779,  '81-83.  Nov.  16,  '79. 

Georg  Broetke  [or  Bceske],  1781,  '83.  Nov.  17,  '79. 
Wilhelrn  Boecking,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  8,  '80. 

Friedricli  Georg  Mathseus,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  9,  '80. 
Joseph  Heinrich  Wiederhold,  1781,  '83.  Nov.  u,  '80. 
Heinrich  Pauly,  1781,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Goebell,  Jr.,  1783.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

'Wounded  at  Stono  Ferry,  South  Carolina,  June  30,  1779 — Almori 's 
Remembrancer,  vol.  8,  page  302. 

2  A  Frenchman  who  refused  to  fight  against  his  countrymen  and  was  dis 
charged  in  1781. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  323 

Ensigns. 
Wernicke,  1778. 
Liebrecht  Fleck,  1778. 
1  Kleinschmidt,  1778. 
Schroeder,  1778,  '79. 
Georg  Boeske  [or  Broetke],  1778,  '79. 
Werner,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Joseph  Heiiirich  Wiederhold,  1779. 
Wilhelm  Boecking,  1779,  '81. 
Friedrich  Georg  Mathaeus,  1781. 
Goebell,  1781. 
Gombrecht,  1781. 

Schmidt,  1782,  '83.  July  31,  '78. 

Hatzfeldt,  1783.  Mar.  6,  '82. 

Schultze,  1783.  Mar.  10,  '82. 

Adjutant. 
Liebrecht  Fleck,  1779. 

Quarter-Masters. 
Fitz,  1778,  '79. 
Bokeloh,  1783. 

Surgeons. 

Holtzschuh,  1778,  '79. 
Girrard,  1783. 


REGIMENT  TRUMBACH,  1778. 
REGIMENT  BOSE,  1779,  1783. 

Lieutenant-  General. 
Carl  von  Bose,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

'  Deserted  on  account  of  his  debts,  Aug.  n,  1778  — Von  Krafts  Journal, 
Collections  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  1882,  page  59. 

His  portrait  was  fixed  to  the  gallows  as  a  deserter,  Oct.  I,  1781. — Ibid, 
page  151. 


324  The  German  Allies 

Colonels. 

1  Carl  Ernst  von  Bischhausen,  1778-80. 

Baron  H.  von  Muenchausen,  1783.  May  29,  '78. 

L  ieutenant-  Colonels. 

Baron  H.  von  Muenchausen,  1778-82.      Jan.  21,  '76. 
Chris,  du  Puy  [or  Buy],  1782,  '83.  Nov.  4,  '80. 

Majors. 
Chris,  du  Buy  [or  Puy],  1778-81. 

2  von  O'Reilly,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  3,  '80. 
2Friedrich  Heinrich  Schur,  1782,  '83.        Nov.  6,  '80. 

Captains. 
Friedrich  Heinrich  Schur,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

3  Alexander  Wilrnousky,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Moritz  von  Stein,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 

3Johann  Eigenbrod,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.      Feb.  24,  '76. 

4  Rail,  1779,  '81. 

Wilhelm  von  Leliva,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Johann  Schwaner,  1782,  '83.  — ,  '80;  Sep.  5,  'Si. 

Philipp  Butte,  1782,  '83.  -,  '80;  Sep.  6,  '81. 

Lieiitenants. 

Wilhelm  von  Leliva,  1778. 
Spener,  1778,  '79. 
Henel,  1779. 

First  Lieutenants. 
2  Philipp  Butte,  1779,  '81. 
2)4  Johann  Schwaner,  1781. 

1  To  be  Brigadier  General,  Oct.  n,  1780. — Robertson's  Orderly  Book. 
Wounded  at   the   battle   of   Guilford,  March    15,    1781. — Almon's  Remem 
brancer,  volume  12,  page  25. 

2  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  n,  page  252. 

3  Wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Guilford   "and  since  dead." — Almon's  Remem 
brancer,  volurre  12,  page  25. 

4  Wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Guilford. — Rivington's  Gazette,  August  n,  1781. 
Killed  at  Yorktown. — Gained  Gazette,  November  26,  1781. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  325 

'Georg  Christoph  Hoepfner,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Aug.  i,  '79. 

2Johann  Josias  Geyso,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.    Aug.  2,  '79. 
Ludwig  Wilhelm  Henel,  1782,  '83.  Aug.  3,  '79. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Ludwig  Wilhelm  Henel,  1778. 

3  Hartmann,  1778,  '79,  '82.  Mar.  4,  '74. 

'Joseph  Wilhelm  Netzner,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Mar.  5,  '74. 
Johann  Frederick  Kuntzet  [or  Kuntzook],  1783. 

Nov.  10,  '77. 
1  Carl  William  von  Burghoff,  1779,  '81-83. 

Nov.  n,  '77. 

Nikolaus  Kuntsch,  1779,  '82.  j  ^°v'  2O>  ]77' 

{  Nov.  10,  77. 

Nikolaus  von  Runk,  1783.  Sept.  5,  '81. 

Adolph  von  Roden,  1783.  Sept.  6,  '81. 

Wilhelm  Brauns,  1783.  ,Mar.  9,  '82. 

4Johann  Philipp  von  Krafft,  1782.  Sept.  15,  '82. 

Ensigns. 

Johann  Friedrich  von  Kuntzook  [or  Kuntzet],  1778. 
Carl  William  von  Burghoff,  1778. 
von  Horn,  1778. 
Ernst  von  Trott,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

'Nikolaus  Runk,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  June  9,  '77. 

1  Adolph  von  Roden,  1779,  '82.  Oct.  19,  '77. 

1  Wilhelm  Brauns,  1779,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  26,  '78. 

•  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking  2,  page  252 

2  Wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Guilford,  March  15,  ifti.—Almon's  Remem 
brancer,  volume  12,  page  25. 

8  Died  in  New  York,  Oct.  21.  1782. — Von  Krafft's  Journal,  New  York 
Historical  Societies  Collections.  1882,  page  170. 

4  His  journal,  with  a  memoir  prefixed,  will  be  found  in  New  York  Histori 
cal  Society's  Collections,  1882,  and  the  date  of  his  commission  appears  on 
p.  181. 


326  The  German  Allies 

1  Spangenberg,  1781,  '82.  Aug.  i,  '78. 

Biskamp,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Johann  Philipp  von  Krafft,  1783.  Sept.  5,  '81. 

de  Rantzow,  1783.  Feb.  10,  '82. 

Meugersen,  1783.  Mar.  9,  '82. 

Meisner,  1783.  *  Mar.  10,  '82. 

Adjutants. 
Henel,  1779. 
Adolph  von  Roden,  1781,  '82. 

Quarter-Master. 
Conrad  Strnbe,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

,  Surgeons. 
Mnller,  1778. 
2W.  Wnrffelman,  1779,  '81-83. 


REGIMENT  HUYNE,  1778-1781. 
REGIMENT  VON  BENNING,  1782,  1783. 

Major-  General. 
von  Hnyne,  1778. 

Colonels. 
Friedrich  von  Benning,  1782,  '83.  May  23,  '78. 

Lieutenant-  Colonels. 

Ludwig  Franz  Knrtz,  1778-82.  Sept.  17,  '78. 

Johann  Philip  Hillebrand,  1780-83.  Nov.  13,  '78. 

Melchior  Martini,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  7,  '80. 

'Wounded  at  Yorktown. — Games'  New  York  Gazette,  Nov.  26,  1781.     Sur 
rendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  vol.  II,  p.  252. 

2  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  vol.  n,  p    252. 

8  Died  in  New  York,  July  25,  1780,  in  his  6oth  year. — Gaines1  New  York 
Gazette,  July  31,  1780. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  327 

Majors. 

Johann  Philip  Hillebrand,  1778,  '79. 
Melchior  Martini,  1778-81. 

Captains. 

'von  Schallern,  1778. 
3Wegener,  1778. 

Heinrich  Sonneborn,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  May  14,  '76. 
Reinhard  Heilmann,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  15,  '76. 

Dietrich  Reinhardt,  1778,  '79,  '81-81.   \  JUne  23'  !72' 

0     (June  23,  77. 

Claudius  Stueck,  1781-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

Johann  Hoecker,  1781-83.  Dec.  15,  '78. 

Lieutenant. 
•'Justi  [1776]. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Claudius  Stueck,  1778,  '79. 
Johann  Hoecker,  1778,  '79. 

Jerome  Roepenack,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 
Franz  Adam  Kuhl,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Dec.  14,  '78. 
Johann  Knipp  [or  Krupp],  1782,  '83.  Feb.  16,  '81. 
Friedrich  Starckloff,  1782,  '83.  Feb.  17,  J8i. 

von  Waldschmidt,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  i,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Wendt,  1778,  '79. 
Ludwig  G-rau,  1779. 

Johann  Knipp  [or  Krupp],  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Friedrich  Starckloff,  1779. 
Conrad  Hillebrand,  1781-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

1  Killed  in  Rhode  Island,  Aug.  29,  1778. — Almons  Remembrancer,  vol.  vn, 
P.  35- 

2  Wounded  in  Rhode  Island,  Aug.  29,  1778. — Altnon's  Remembrancer,  vol. 
vn,  p.  35 -. 

3  Killed  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,   1776. — Gaines1  New  York  Gazette, 
March_i7,  1777. 


328  The  German  Allies 

Otto  Roland  Schenck,  1781-83.  Dec.  14,  '78. 

Bernhardt  Eugeii  Eckhard,  1782,  '83.        Mar.  7,  '81. 
Johann  Martini,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  ;8i. 

Ensigns. 
'Wendt  [1776]. 
Kersting,  1778. 
Duncker,  1778. 
Wiscker,  1778. 
Ludwig  Gran,  1778. 
Conrad  Hillebrand,  1778,  '79. 
Otto  Roland  Schenck,  1779. 
Bernhardt  Eugeii  Eckhard,  1779,  '81. 
Johann  Martini,  1779,  'Si. 

Johann  Christoph  Hartung,  1781-83.      Nov.  15,  '78. 
Daniel  Georg  Reinhardt,  1781-83.  Dec.  13,  '78. 

Friedrich  Goeschell,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Just  Wenderoth,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

Chaplain. 
Kummel,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Adjutants. 

Friedrich  Starckloff,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '83. 
Johann  Christoph  Hartung,  1782. 

Quarter-Master. 
Kleinschmidt,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Judge- Advoca  tes. 
Steuber,  1778,  '79,  '83. 
Kleinsteuber,  1781,  '82. 

Surgeon. 
Johann  Witte,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

'Wounded  at  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16.  1776.    Gaines  Ne-wYork  Gazette, 
March  17,  1777. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  329 

REGIMENT  BUENAU,  1778-1783. 
Colonels. 


Rudolph  von  Buenau,  1778-83.  I  Ee£*  2I>  ,'75* 

\  Feb.  25,  '75. 

Johann  Adam  Schaeffer,  1783.  Nov.  6,  '80. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 

Johann  Adam  Schaeffer,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82. 

Nov.  6,  '80. 
Majors. 
Mathias,  1778. 
Heinrich  Booking,  1779-81. 

Friedrich  Platte,  1779-83.  Feb.  3,-  '78. 

Ludwig  Booking,  1782. 
Heinrich  Christian  Hessenmuller,  1782,  '83. 

Nov.  7,  '80. 
Captains. 
Studenroth,  1778. 
Ferrand,  1778,  '79. 
Johann  Christian  Goebel,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Mar.  8,  '76. 

Philipp  Virnhuber,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.         Mar.  9,  '76. 
1  August  Christ  Noltenius,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Mar.  17,  '76. 

Johann  Bartholomew  Becker,  1782,  '83.    Dec.  16,  '78. 
Fritsch,  1782.  Dec.  17,  '78. 

Johann  Christoph  Feldner,  1782,  '83.       Dec.  18,  '78. 
Balthasar  Mertz,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  20,  '78. 

Lieutenants. 
Bornemann,  1778,  '79. 
von  Harstall,  1778,  '79. 

1  Wounded  at  Rhode  Island,  Aug    29,  1778  —  Almon's  Remembrancer,  vol. 
VII,  p.  35 

42 


330  The  German  Allies 

First  Lieutenants. 

Johann  Bartholomew  Becker,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Johann  Christoph  Feldner,  1779,  '81. 

Werner,  1781. 

Christoph  Otto  Frolin,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Christoph  Otto  Frolin,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Heinrich  Bauer,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Wolff  de  Guetenberg,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  25  '76. 

Kleinsteuber,  1779,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  3,  '78. 
Georg  Lyncker,  1782,  '83.     Nov.  i,  '78;  Nov.  i,  '80. 

Cam.  FYiedrich  Gombert,  1783.  July  I5>  '79- 

Reinhardt  Friedricli  Schaeffer,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  'Si. 

Brauns,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

Carl  Hillebrand,  1783.  Nov.  4,  '81. 

Ensigns. 

Kleinsteuber,  1778. 
Cam.  Friedricli  Gornbert,  1778,  '79. 
Bode,  1778,  '79. 
Georg  Lyncker,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
Reinhardt  Friedricli  Schaeffer,  1778,  '79,  'Si. 
Carl  Hillebrand,  1779,  'Si,  '82.  Feb.  3,  '78. 

Gotton  Grebe,  1781-83.  Dec.  22,  '78. 

Georg  [or  Peter  Wilhelm]  Quentell,  1782,  '83. 

May  14,  '80. 

Peter  Muench,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  2,  '80. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm  Kuester,  1782,  '83.       Nov.  8,  '80. 
M.  K.  Seelig,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Adjutants. 

Johann  Christoph  Feldner,  1778,  '79. 

Cam.  Friedrich  Gombert,  1781-83.  "         Apr.  15/79. 


In   the  American   Revolution.  331 

Quarter-Masters. 
Meisterling,  1778. 
Strahle,  1779,  '81,  '82.  Mar.  i,  '78. 

Surgeon. 
Beck,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  i,  '76. 


ARTILLERY,  1778-1783. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 
Hans  Heinrich  Eitel,  1778-83.  Dec.  25,  '77. 

Major. 
Pauli,  1778,  '79. 

Captains. 

1  Georg  Krug,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Jan.  26,  '76. 
Johann  Schleenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  j  g*-    3,  ^ 

2    TT7  ^  *          O>  I?* 

2  Werner,  1779. 

Lieutenants. 
Werner,  1778. 
Deitzel,  1779. 

First  Lieutenant. 

Johann  Georg  Kaiser,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.    Feb.  3,  '78. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Fischer,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Philipp  Scheimer,  1778,  >79,  '81-83.      {  JJjr-  «,  ^ 


1  See  Bancroft's  United  States,  Centennial  Edition,  vol.  V,  p    398. 

s  A  few  days  since  died  after  a  lingering  il'ness,  Captain  Werner,  of  the 
Hessian  Artillery  and  Majrr  of  Brigade  to  General  Knyphausen,  a  Gentle 
man  of  eminence  in  his  profession  and  universally  beloved  by  a  very  exten 
sive  acquaintance.  —  Gained  New  York  Ga*ettet  August  6,  1781, 


332  The    German   Allies 

Casimer  Gerke,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  15,  '76. 

Christoph  Schmidt,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  16,  '76. 
Johann  Schaeffer,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  18,  '76. 
Johann  Engelhard,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  19,  '76. 
Schwartzeiiberg,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Mar.  27,  '76. 

'Carl  August  de  Gironcourt  [de  Vomecourt],  1779, 
'82,  '83.  Apr.  i,  '76. 

Carl  Justus  Korngiebell,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  22,  '77. 
Adjutants. 
Dietzel,  1778. 
Carl  Justus  Korngiebell,  1782. 

Quarter-Master. 
Wiederhold,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82. 


CHASSEURS,  1778-1780. 
MOUNTED  AND  DISMOUNTED  YAGERS,  1779,  '81-83. 

Colonel. 
Ludwig  J.  Adolph  von  Wurmb,  1783.        Jan.  3,  '78. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Ludwig  J.  Adolph  von  Wurmb,  1778-82.  Jan.  25,  '76. 
Ernst  Carl  von  Bruschenck  [Pruschenck],  1781-83. 

Nov.  15,  '79. 
Majors. 

Ernst  Carl  von  Bruschenck,  1778-80. 

Philipp  von  Wurmb,  1779-83.  May  4,  '77. 

'Married  on  Sunday  evening  last  [Aug.  10.  1783]  Baron  de  Gironcourt. 
Lieutenant  of  Artillery,  and  Deputy  Quarter  Master  General  to  the  Hessian 
Troops  to  Mi>s  Elizabeth  Come,  daughter  of  Captain  Peter  Corne,  of  this 
city.— Gained  New  York  Gazette,  August  18,  1783. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  333 

Captains. 

von  Wreeden,  1778,  '79. 
Lorrey,  1778,  '79. 
'von  Ran,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
3Johann  Ewald,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Mar.  6,  '74. 

3  Hon.  George  Hanger,  1779,  '81-83.      {  j^e  ^  ^ 

Moritz  von  Donop,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  3,  '78. 

Johann  Heinrichs,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  4,  '78. 

Friedrich  Adolph  von  Wangenheim,  1781-83. 

Dec.  13,  '78. 
von  Bodtmgen,  1781. 
von  Hagen,  1783.  Nov.  9,  '81. 

Captain-L  ieutenant. 
Roinrodt,  1782.  July  5,  '76. 

Lieutenants. 
von  Donop,  1778. 
4Mertz,  1778. 

5  Montluisant,  1778. 

von  Bodungen,  1778,  '79. 

Friedrich  Adolph  von  Wangenheim,  1778,  '79. 

First  Lieutenants. 

6  von  Ran  [1776]. 
Johann  Heinrichs,  1778. 
von  Muise,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

1  Killed  at  Kingsbridge,  New  York,  1781. 

9  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  vol.  2,  p.  252. 

'Afterwards  fourth  and  last  Baron  Coleralne. 

4  Wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  September  30,  1778. — Von  Krafft's  Jour 
nal,  New  York  Historical  Society's  Collection,  1882,  p.  62. 

*  A  Frenchman,  who  entered  the  Army  only  to  get  to  America,  was  dis 
charged,  tried  to  join  the  American  Army,  was  seized  and  sent  to  England. 

6  Wounded  at  the  passage  of  the  Bronx,  October  28,  1776.— -Goings'  New 
York  Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 

Wounded  July  2,  1781. — Von  Krafft's  Journal,  New  York  Historical  Society1* 
Collection,  1882,  p.  142. 


334  The  German  Allies 

Wilhelm  von  Hagen,  1778,  '79,  '81,  '82.  Feb.  3,  '78. 

Carl  E.  von  Hagen,  1778,  '79,  'Si,  '82.  Feb.  4,  '78. 

Friedrich  Kellerhaus,  1778,  '79,  '82,  '83.  Jan.  8,  '79. 

Heinrich  Wolif,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  9,  '79. 

Ernst  von  Winzengerode,  1781-83.  Mar.  8,  '79. 
Johann  Schaeffer,  1782,  '83.                        Mar.  21,  '80. 

'Wilhelm  [or  Alexander]  Bickell,  1783.  Nov.  7,  'Si. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Johann  Schaeffer,  1778,  '79,  '81. 

Wilhelm  [or  Alexander]  Bickell,  1779,  'Si,  '82. 

Dec.  24,  '77. 

Maximillian  Cornelius,  1779,  '81-83.        Feb.  26,  '78. 
Conrad  Flies,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  27,  '78. 

'Friedrich  Francis  Bohlen,  1781-83.  Mar.  8,  '79. 

Engel  Besger,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  16,  '80. 

Wilhelm  [or  Ludwig]  von  Gerresheim,  1782,  '83. 

May  i,  '80. 

Friedrich  Ochse,  1782,  '83.  Sept.  7,  'Si. 

Baur,  1783.  Feb.  10,  '82. 

Adjutants. 

Johann  Schaeffer,  1778. 
Friedrich  Kellerhaus,  1779,  '81. 
Ernst  von  Winzingerode,  1782. 
Friedrich  Ochse,  1783. 

Quarter-Master. 
Beckmann,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Wiscker,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Surgeon. 
August  Hencke,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktowa, — Eclking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  335 

1  FIRST  REGIMENT  OF  BRANDENBURG  ANSPACH, 
1778,  1779. 

REGIMENT  VOIT,  1781,  1782. 
FIRST  BATTALION  ANSPACH,  1783. 

Colonels. 

von  Eybe,  1778,  '79. 
2fr.  August  Valentin  Voit  von  Sals  burg,  1781-83. 

Jan.  28,  '77. 
Lieutenant-Colonel. 
2  Christ.  Lndwig  von  Reitzenstein,  1781-83. 

Aug.  18,  '78. 
Majors. 

Christ.  Ludwig  von  Reitzenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81. 
2Friedrich  Philipp  von  Seitz,  1781-83.    Aug.  18,  '78. 

Captains. 

von  Waldenfels,  1778,  '79. 

2  Christ.  Philipp  von  Ellrodt,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

_  Dec.  27,  '74. 

2  Heinrich  Carl  Friedrich  von  Stein   \zurn  Reit '2 ' en- 
stem],  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Feb.  9,  '77- 
Heinrich  Christoph  von  Metzsch.                  July  9>  '?8. 

Captain  Lieutenants. 

Christian  Thcodor  Sigismund  von  Molitor,  1778,  '79. 
2Carl  Christoph  Ernst  Tritschler,  1781-83. 

(  Aug.  18,  '78. 
'August  Christoph  Friedrich  von  Koenig,  1781-83. 

Mar  2,  '79. 
Wilhelm  Friedrich  von  Kruse  \_ij82,  'c?j].  Mar.  /,  ^82. 

1  Names  in  italics  are  taken  from  Geisler,  p.  578. 
'Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eclting,  volume  2,  p.  252. 


336  The  German  Allies 

First  Lieutenants. 
von  Stoeder,  1778,  '79 
Chletsich,  1778,  '79  * 

Carl  Christoph  Ernst  von  Tritschler,  1778,  '79. 
August  Christoph  Friedrich  von  Koenig,  1778,  '79 
von  der  Heydell,  1778,  '79. 

'Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Reitzenstein,  1778,  '79, '81-83. 

July  28,  '75. 

Carl  Friedrich  von  Schoenfeldt,  1778-83.  July  27,  '76. 
'Friedrich  von  Keller,  1781-83.  '  Feb  6,  '78. 

'Wilhelm  Fr.  Marschall  von  Bierbenstein,  1781-83. 

July  9,  '73- 

lAlbrecht    Ernst   Ludwig    Treschel  von    Teitfstetten, 
1781-83.  Mar.  2,  79. 

'Wilhelm  von  Diemar,  1781-83.  Mar.  2,  '79. 

Johann  Ernst  PrechteL 
Georg  Friedrich  Philipp  Guttenberg. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Friedrich  von  Keller,  1778,  '79. 
Wilhelm  Fr.  Marschall  von  Bierbenstein,  1778,  '79. 
Albrecht  Ernst  Ludwig  Treschel  von  Teufstetten, 

i778,  '79. 

von  Chlardefelclt,  1778,  '79. 
Wilhelm  von  Diemar,  1778,  '79. 

'Friedrich  von  Foetor,  1781-83.  June  i,  '77. 

'Johann  Ernst  Prechtel,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Sept.  28,  '77. 
'Georg  Friedrich  Philipp  Guttenberg,  1778, ' 79/81-83 

Sept.  28,  '77. 

'Johann  Christian  von  Drexel,  1781-83.  Oct  3,  '78. 
^Johann  Gottfried  Minameyer,  1781-83.  Oct  3,  '78. 
''Christian  Gottfried  Baumann,  1781-83.  Oct.  3,  '78. 
^Johann  Christoph  Doehlemann,  1781-83.  Oct.  3,  '78. 
Johann  Friedrich  Foerster,  1781-83.  Dec.  20,  '78. 

'Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  337 

'Johann  von  Fabrice,  1781-83.  May  i,  '79. 

Deahna,  1782.  July  26,  '79. 

"•Georg  Simon  Halbmeyer,  1781,  ^82.  Oct.  29,  '79. 

lGeorg  Matthias  Beyer,  1782.  Aug.  6,  'Si. 

Adjutants. 

Friedrich  von  Foeter,  1781. 

Johann  [or  Christ]  Gott  Minameyer,  1782. 

Chaplain. 
Johann  Christoph  Wagner,  1781-83.          Feb.  /,  '77. 

Judge- Advocate. 
^Johann  Carl  Conrad  Rummel,  1781-83. 

Surgeon. 
'Friedrich  Jacob  Rapp,  1781-83.  Feb.  i,  '77. 

Quarter-Master  General. 
'Carl  WilHelm  Fr.  Meyer,  1781-83. 

Commissary. 
Johann  Christoph  Hermann,  1781-83. 

Artillery  Officer. 
Friedrich  Hoffmann,  1783.  May  22,  '69. 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 
43 


338  The  German  Allies 

'SECOND    REGIMENT   OF   BRANDENBURG   ANSPACH. 

REGIMENT  VON  VOIT,  1778,  1779. 

REGIMENT  SEYBOTHEN,  1781,  1782. 

SECOND  BATTALION  ANSPACH,  1783. 

Colonels. 

August  Valentin  Voit  von  Saltzburg,  1778,  '79. 
z  Franz  Johann  Heinrich  Wilhelm  Christian  von  Sey- 
bothen,  1781-83.  Feb.  6,  '78. 

Majors. 

*  Franz  Johann  Heinrich  Wilhelm  Christian  von  Sey- 

bothen,  1778,  '79. 
2 Ernst  Friedrich  Car!  von  Beust,  1781-83. 

Feb.  6,  '78. 
Captains. 

Ernst  Friedrich  Carl  von  Beust,  1778,  '79. 

von  Seitz,  1778,  '79. 

2> 3 Friedrich  Ludwig  von  Eyl,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

June  22,  '69. 
2 Christian  Theodor  Sigismund  von  Molitor,  1781-83, 

>ly  i,  '77  July  17,  '77. 
2Georg  Heinrich  von  Quesnoy,  1781-83.  Oct.  24,  '77. 

Captain  Lieutenants. 

Georg  Heinrich  von  Quesnoy,  1778,  '79. 
Heinrich  Christoph  Friedrich  von  Metzsch,  1781-83. 

July  9,  '78. 
Johann  Christoph  Seidel. 

1  Names  in  italics  are  taken  from  Geisler,  p.  579. 

2  Surrendered  at  Yorktovvn. — Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 

8  Wounded  at  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery,  October  6,  1779. — Pennsyl 
vania  Ledger,  March.  II,  1778. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  339 

First  Lieutenants. 
von  Schwart,  1778,  '79. 
von  Woellwarth,  1778,  '79. 
1  Wilhelm  Friedrich  von  Kruse,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

June  26,  '75. 
'Johann  Christoph  Seidel,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  i,  '77. 

Philipp  Otho  von  Beust,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.   Feb.  2,  '77. 
'Carl  Friedrich  von  Adelheim,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  13,  '77. 

'Friedrich  Ernst  von  Reitzenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Oct.  24,  '77- 

Maximilian  von  Streit,  1781-83.  Feb.  6,  '78. 

Carl  Alexander  von  Weiterschausen,  1781-83. 

July  9,  '78. 

Georg  Gustav  Lebrecht  von  Tunderfeldt. 
Heinrich  Wenhardt. 
Johann  Anton  Carl  von  Altenstein. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
'Maximilian  von  Streit,  1778,  '79. 
'Carl  Alexander  von  Weiterschausen,  1778,  '79. 
von  Weigner,  1778,  '79. 
2von  Dieniar,  1778,  '79. 
Christoph  von  Molitor,  1778,  '79. 
von  Strahlendorf,  1778,  '79. 
'Georg  Gustav  Lebrecht  von  Tunderfeldt,  1778,  '79, 

'81-83-  Feb-  5,  '77- 

'Johann  Anton  Carl  von  Altenstein,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  6,  '77. 

'  Heinrich  Weinhardt,  1778,  '79,  '81-83.     Feb.  9,  '77. 
Heinrich  S.  Nagler,  1781-83.  Oct.  8,  '77. 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  vol.  II,  p.  252. 

2  Ernst  von  Diemar  to  be  Major  of  the  Fort  at  Brooklyn,  January  8,  1783. 
Gaines*  New  Yoro  Gazette,  January  20,  1783. 


340  The  German  Allies 

'Johann  Andreas  Gottlob  von  Ciriarsi  [or  Cyriatzy], 
1778,  '79,  '81-83.  Oct.  31,  '77. 

'Johann  Hermann  Lindemeyer,  1781-83.  Mar.  14,  '78. 
Carl  Godfried  Schuchard,  1781-83.  July  24,  '78. 

'Johann  Gottfried  Hirsch,  1781-83.  Dec.  19,  '78. 

'Carl  Christoph  Graebner,  1781-83.  Mar.  2,  '79. 

'Johann  Heinricli  von  Matolay,  1781-83. 

Apr.  i,  '79,  Apr.  12,  '79- 


'Johann  Heinrich  Popp,  1782.  {  gpt.  JS,  |i. 


Adjutants. 
Herrnbaner,  1778,  '79. 
Johann  Christoph  Seidel,  1781-83. 

Judge-  A  dvoca  te. 
Christoph  Laurenz  Pflug,  1782.  Feb.  i,  '77. 

Chaplain. 
Johann  Georg  Philipp  Erb,  1781-83.         Jan.  n,  '78. 

Quarter-Master. 
'Johann  Georg  Chris.  Daig,  1778,  '79,  '81-83. 

Feb.  i,  '77. 
Surgeon. 

'Johann  Heinrich  [or  Friedrich  Wilhelm]  Schneller, 
1781-83.  Dec.  10,  '79. 

ARTILLERY. 

Captain. 
Nikolaus  Friedrich  Hoffmann,  1782,  '83.  Aug.  i,  'Si. 

First  Lieutenant. 
Nikolans  Friedrich  Hoffmann,  1781.          Dec   i,  '80. 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktown.  —  Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  341 

'ANSPACH  JAGERS,  1781-1783. 

Colonel. 

Chris  top  h  Ludwig  Rudolph  Freiherr  von  Reitzenstein 
[1783].  Dec.  2,  '82. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 

Christoph  Ludwig  Rudolph  Freiherr  von  Reitzenstein, 
1782.  Aug.  18,  '78- 

Captains. 

Christoph  Fr.  Joseph  von  Waldenfels,  1781-83. 

Feb.  i, '77;  Feb.  9, '77. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm  von  Roeder,  1781/82.    Feb.  6,  '78. 
Carl  Christian  Ernst  Tretschler  von  Falkenstein. 

Mar.  i,  '82. 

August  Christian  Friedrich  von  Koenitz.     Mar.  i,  '82. 
Ernst  Wilhelm  Friedrich  Adolph  von  Wurmb. 

Mar.  i,  '82. 
Captain  Lieutenants. 

Friedrich  Wilhelm,  Freiherr  von  Reitzenstein. 

Mar.  i,  '82. 
Carl  Friedrich  Rudolph  von  Schoenfeldt.    Mar.  i,  '82. 

Lieutenant. 
de  Forstner  [1777]. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Moritz  Wilhelm  von  der  Hey dt e ,  1781-83.    Feb .  3 , '  7  7 . 
Friedrich  Ernst,  Freiherr  von  Reitzenstein. 

Oct.  24,  '77. 
Just  von  Diemar,  1781-83.  Mar.  2,  '79. 

1  New  York,  July  16. -Yesterday  embarked  for  Bremerlehe,  in  Germany, 
the  Anspach  Jagers. — Gaines  New  York  Gazette,  July  21,  1783. 

Names  in  italics  are  taken  from  Geisler,  p.  581. 

2  Wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Germantown,  September  n,  1777. — Pennsyl 
vania  Ledger,  March  4,  1778. 


342  The    German   Allies 

Second  Lieutenants. 
von  Reitzenstein,  1781,  '82.  \  Q^'       '  ?'' 

Christian  Friedrich  Bartholomai,  1781-83. 

Oct.  27,  '77. 

Jacob  Ernst  Kling,  1781-83.  Mar.  i,  '79. 

Just  Hermann  Drahua.  July  26,  '79. 

Ehrenfried  Hansz  Friedrich  Ferdinand  Busch. 

Apr.  /,  '80. 

1 'Joseph  Bach,  1781,  '82.          June  9,  '80;  July  9,  '80. 
Wilhelm  de  Killer,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  i,  '81. 

Ferdinand  von  Killer.  Feb.  /,  ^81. 

Friedrich  Adolph  Karl  von  Eyb.  Apr.  5,  '81. 

Julius  von  Massenbach.  June  18,  '81. 

Franz  Graf  von  Bubna  und  Lititz.  Nov.  i,  '81. 

Albertus  Magnus  Frank.  Mar.  2,  '82. 

August  Wilhelm  Neithardt  von  Gneisenau. 

Mar.  3,  '82. 

Christian  Kaspar  Morg.  Mar.  4,  '82. 

Christoph  Georg  Philipp  Otto,  1783.        Mar.  28,  '82. 

Adjutant. 
Christoph  Georg  Philipp  Otto.  Mar.  i,  '82. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Johann  Paul  Frisch,  1782.  Feb.  i,  '81. 

Quarter-Master. 
Johann  Leonhardt  Hauselt  [or  Hausett],  1782. 

Surgeon. 
Friedrich  Siegmund  Arnold,  1782. 

Chaplain. 
Georg  Christoph  Elias  Erb.  Mar.  /,  '82. 

1  Surrendered  at  Yorktown. — Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  252. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  343 

Staff  Physician  for  the  three  Brandenburg,  Anspach 

and  Bayreuth  Regiments. 
David  Schoepf.  Feb.  //,  '77. 


YAGER  CORPS,  1778,  1779. 

Colonel. 
1  Carl  Emil  Kurt  von  Donop. 

Captains. 
3  Trautvitter. 
von  Cramon,  1778,  '79. 
3  Heppe. 

First  Lieutenant. 

von  Feilitsch,  1778,  '79. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
4Ebenaner,  1778,  '79. 
5  von  Donop. 

Artillery  Lieutenant. 

Hoffman,  1778,  '79. 

Adjutant. 
Staab,  1778,  '79. 

Chaplain. 
Wagner,  1778,  '79. 

Judge- Advocate. 
Stnmmel,  1778,  '79. 

1  Killed  at  Red  Bank. 

2  Mortally  wounded  at  Battle  of  Brandy  wine. — Pennsylvania  Ledger,  March 
4,  1778. 

•Mortally  wounded  at  Gloucester,  September  25,  1777. 

4  Killed  at  Springfield,  New  Jersey,  June  8,  1780. — Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  qi. 

6  Died  in  New  York  in  1777. 


344  The    German   Allies 

Quarter-Master. 
Model,  1778,  '79. 

Surgeon. 
Stapp,  1778,  '79. 

NOTE. — See  note  at  end  of  the  Regiment  Mirbach. 


REGIMENT  DONOP,  1779-1783. 

Lieutenant-General. 
Wilhelm  Heinricli  August  Donop,  1782,  '83. 

Oct.  24,  '72. 
Colonels. 
David  von  Gosen,  1779,  '80. 

Erasmus  Ernst  Hinte,  1783. 

Carl  Philipp  Heymell,  1782,  '83.  May  22,  '78. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 
Erasmus  Ernst  Hinte,  1779-82. 

Majors. 
Christ.  Moritz  von  Kutzleben,  1779,  '82,  '83. 

Feb.  24,  '77. 
Carl  von  Wurmb,  1779-83.  Apr.  5,  '77. 

Captains. 

ay  29'  69' 


Jean  Matthew  Gissot,  1779,  '81-83.  '       ' 

(  May  22,  79. 

Just  Verater,  1779,  '81-83.  Feb.  21,  '75. 

Dietrich  von  Donop,  1779,  '81,  '82.         j  ^  **»  ^ 

Friedrich  Wm.  Geissler,  1779-83.  Apr.  27,  '77. 

Philipp  Heinrich  Murhard,  1779-83.        Dec.  25,  '77. 
Christoph  Friedrich  von  Donop,  1783. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  345 

First  Lieutenants. 

Emanuel  R.  Hausmann,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  23,  '76. 

Johann  Philipp  Reiss,  1782,  '83.  June  28,  '77. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
1  Wilnelm  Carl  von  Donop,  1779,  '81. 
Johann  Ernst  von  Freyenhagen,  1779,  '81. 
Heinrich  von  Bardeleben,  1779-83.  Sept.  4,  '74. 

Heinrich  Ludwig  von  Nagele,  1779,  '81-83. 

Mar.  5,  '74 ;  May  5,  '74. 

Wilhelm  von  Lepell,  1779-83.  Feb.  i,  '76. 

Carl  August  von  Freyenhagen,  1779,  '81-83. 

Feb.  3,  '76. 
Jerome  von  Lossberg,  1782,  '83.  Nov.  23,  '76. 

Carl  Fried,  von  Nagele,  1779,  '81-83.      {  Jg*-  J»  |77- 

Eytell  William  von  Trott,  1779,  '81-83.    Feb.  3,'  '78. 
W.  J.  von  Freyenhagen,  1782.  Feb.  4,  '78. 

Friedrich  Ferd.  Murhard,  1783.  May  30,  '82. 

Ensigns. 

Carl  von  Knoblauch,  1779,  '81. 

Friedrich  Ferd.  Murhard,  1779,  '81,  '82.  Nov.  16,  '76. 

Georg  von  Lehrbach,  1779,  '81-83.  June  9?  '77- 

Lon.  \_sic\  C.  A.  von  Hausen,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '81. 

Johann  Henckel,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  9,  '81. 

Boeking,  1783.  Mar.  30,  '82. 

Chaplain. 

Koester,  1779,  '81-83.  Jan.  29,  '76. 

Adjutant. 
Wilhelm  von  Lepell,  1779,  '81-83.  Fe^.  i,  '76. 

Quarter-Master. 
Georg  Zinn,  1779-82.  Feb.  i,  '69. 

i  Appointed  Chamberlain  to  the  Duke  of  Mecklenberg-Schwerin,  1780. — 
Von  Krafft's  Journal,  New  York  Historical  Society's  Collection,  1782,  p.  125. 

44 


346  The  German  Allies 

Judge- Advocate. 
Ernst  Heymele,  1779-82.  Feb.  2,  '76. 

Surgeons. 

Jacob  Stieglitz,  1779-81.  Feb.  i,  '74. 

Ludwig  Stieglitz,  1782. 


'REGIMENT  WALDECK,  1782,  1783. 

Colonel. 
3  von  Hanxleden. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

3  Albrecht  von  Horn,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  14,  '79. 

von  Dalwigk.  ^ 

Majors. 

Albrecht  von  Horn,  1781. 
4Friedrich  Pentzel,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  14,  '79. 

Captains. 

von  Staakerg,  1782.  Apr.  19,  '76. 

Georg  von  Haacke,  1783.  Apr.  19,  '76. 

Christ.  Alberti,  1782.  Sept.  20,  '77. 

Alexander  von  Baumbach. 
August  Alberti. 

1  Two  Captains,  Three  Lieutenants    and  Three    Surgeon's    Mates   taken 
prisoner  at  Baton  Rouge,  September,  1779.     One  Captain  taken  prisoner  on 
the  Lakes,  Louisiana. — Almoris  Remembrancer,  volume  9,  p.  364. 

Names  in  italics  are  from  Geisler,  p.  583. 

2  Killed   at   Frenchtown,  on  the  Mississippi,  January  7,   1781. — Eelking, 
volume  2,  p.  148. 

3  New  York,  July  16. — Yesterday  embarked  for  Bremerleh,  in  Germany, 
the  3rd    Regiment  of  Waldeck,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.   Horn. — Gaines* 
New  York  Gazette,  July  21,  1783. 

4  Taken  prisoner  at  Pensacola,  together  with  one  Lieutenant,  one  Ensign, 
one  Surgeon's  Mate  of   same    regiment,   May  n,   1781. — Almon's   Remem 
brancer,  volume  II,  p.  280. 


In   the  American   Revolution.  347 

Captain  Lieutenants. 


1  Alexander  von  Baurnbach,  1782,  '81.  j    '   '   ' 

0     [  Apr.  16,  '76. 

August  Alberti,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  5,  '77. 

2Heinrich  Heldring,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  25,  '80. 

Lieutenants. 

3  Leonhardi  [1779]. 
Knipshild. 

4  Stierlein. 

First  Lieutenants. 

WilHelm  Keppel,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  7,  '76. 

Friedrich  von  Wilmousky,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  8,  '76. 

Carl  Struberg,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  5,  '77. 

Andreas  Brumhard,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  14,  '79. 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Roelting. 

5  von  Gosen. 

6  Alberti. 

Carl  Strohmann,  1782.  Apr.  25,  '80. 

Carl  Hohmann,  5r.,  1783. 

Ensigns. 

7  von  Ax  lev  en. 
von  Horn. 

1  Wounded  at  Frenchtown,  on  the  Mississippi,  January  7,  1781.  —  Eelking, 
volume  2,  p.  148. 

2  Taken  prisoner  at  Pensacola.  —  Almorfs  Remembrancer^  volume  12,  p.  281. 
8  Killed  at  Fort  Manchac,  September,  1779.  —  The  Political  Magazine,  1780, 

p.  342. 

4  Killed  at   Frenchtown,  on  the  Mississippi,  January  7,   1781.  —  Eelking, 
volume  2,  p.  148. 

5  Died  in  New  Orleans,  July  20,  1781.  —  Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  152. 

6  Died  in  New  Orleans,  July  21,  1781.  —  Eelking,  volume  2,  p.  152. 

7  Left  the  Regiment,  November  18,  1779.  —  Geisler,  p.  584. 


348  The  German  Allies 

'Nolting  [1779]. 

Ltidwig  Schmidt,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  14,  '79. 

Carl  Muller,  Sr.y  1782,  '83.  Apr.  15,  '79. 

Hohmann,  Jr. 

2  Ursall. 

Muller,  Jr. 

Philipp  Wirths,  1783.  Apr.  25,  '82. 

Bernhardt  Schreiber,  1783.  Aug.  25,  '82. 

Chaplain. 
Philipp  Waldeck,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  24,  '76. 

Adjutants. 
Stierlein. 
Heinrich  Jacob  Knipchild,  1782,  '83.       Apr.  25,  '80. 

Quarter-Master. 
Earl  Wiegand,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  2,  '76. 

Auditor. 
Philip  Marc,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  2,  '76. 

Surgeons. 
Christ.  Mattern,  1782,  '83.  Apr.  20,  '76. 

1  Killed  at  Baton  Rouge.  September,  1779. — A'mon  s  Remembrancer,  volume 
9,  P-  305. 

2  Killed  at  the  siege  of  Pensacola. — Gaines1  New  York  Gazette,  July  9,  1781. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  349 

'FREE  BATTALION  OF  HESSE  HANAU,  1782,  1783. 

L  ieu  tenan  t-  Colonel. 
Michael  von  Janecke,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  4,  '81. 

Major. 
Carl  August  Scheel,  1783.  Jan.  5,  '82. 

Captains. 

Just  Friedrich  von  Franck,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  3,  '81. 
Carl  Dittmar  Spangenberg,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  4,  '81. 
Christ.  Ludwig,  Graf  von  Leiningen,  1782,  '83. 

Jan.  13,  '81. 
Christ.  Ludwig  von  Schelm,  1782,  '83.     Jan.  15,  '81. 

Captain-L  ieutenant. 
Thylo  von  Westerhagen,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  21,  '81. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Godfried  Heinrich  von  Kerner,  1782,  '83. 

Jan.  14,  '81. 

Johann  Georg  Kock,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  15,  '81. 

Carl  Philipp  Eytelwein,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  16,  '81. 

Conrad  Bernhardt  Zipff,  1782.  Mar.  18,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Christian  Hoelcken,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  14,  '81. 

Philipp  Schaeffer,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  15,  >8i. 

Friedrich  Goerdewk,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  18,  '81. 

Jerome  Conradi,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  31,  '81. 

Johann  Godfried  von  Stockel,  1782,  '83.  Mar.  19,  '81. 

Friedricli  Just  Genner,  1782.  Mar.  24,  '81. 

1  New  York,  July  16. — Yesterday  embarked  for  Bremerlehe,  in  Germany. 
— Gaines1  New  York  Gazette,  July  21,  1783. 


350  The  German  Allies 

Ensigns. 

von  Huth,  1782.  Jan.  4,  '81. 

Friedricn  von  Mayerfeld,  1782,  '83.  Jan.  6,  '81. 

von  Benckendorf,  1782.  Mar.  8,  '81. 

Nicholaus  Schweinebraden,  1783.  Jan.  19,  '82, 

Wilhelm  von  Seiff,  1783.  Jan.  20,  '82, 

Adjutant. 
Godfried  Heinricn  von  Kerner,  1782. 

Quarter-Master. 
von  der  Velden,  1782. 

Surgeon. 
Mentzel,  1782. 


'ANHAI/T  ZKRBST,  1783. 

Majors. 

3  von  Lutticnau,  1783.  Jan.  i,  '80. 

Wiedersheim,  1783. 

First  Lieutenant. 

von  Bibra,  1783.  Feb.  20,  '81. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Rustig,  1783.  June  10,  '79. 

von  Scnoniberg,  1783.  July  X9>  '79- 

von  Klapprotto,  1783.  Jan.  23,  '80. 

von  Pollnitz,  1783.  *  Feb.  18,  '81. 

ImnofF,  1783.  Feb.  21,  '81. 

von  Oppen,  1783.  Feb.  22,  '81. 

1  New  York,  July  16, — Yesterday  embarked  for  Bremeriehe,  in  Germany. 
— Gaines*  New  York  Gazette,  July  21,  1783. 

"  Died  since  printing." — Correction  to  Army  List  of  1783. 


In  the  American  Revolution.  351 

RAHL'S  REGIMENT. 
Captain. 


1  Walter. 

Lieutenants. 

2  Kunen. 

3  MulHausen. 

Ensign. 
2  Wernick. 


1  Killed  at  Fort  Washington,  November  16,  1776. — Gaines'  New  York 
Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 

'Wounded  at  Fort  Washington,  November  16,  1776. — Gaines'  New  York 
Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 

8  Wounded  at  the  passage  of  the  Bronx,  October  28,  1776. — Gaines1  New 
York  Gazette,  March  17,  1777. 


I.    INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Adams,  40. 

Agnew,  114. 

Albert!,  Lieutenant,  225. 

Albert!.  Captain,  48,  220. 

v  Altenbockum,  Captain,  66,  76. 

Andre,  Major,  154. 

Arbuthnot.  Admiral,  171,  196. 

Armand,  159 

Armstrong,  General,  110. 

Arnold.  General,  90.  135,  201. 

Bach,  Lieutenant,  131. 

Backer,  Chaplain,  238. 

Bar,  94. 

v.  Earner,  Lt.-Col.,  148,  240,  248. 

Baum,  Captain,  12,  69,  277. 

Baum,  Lieut  Col.,  87,  130,  271. 

v.  Baumbach,  Lieut.,  113,  222. 

Bauermeister,  Major,  254. 

v.  Benning   Colonel,  76,  198. 

v.  Bentheim,  Lieut.,  124,  258. 

v.  Beust,  Major,  215. 

Bickel,  Lieutenant,  113,  161,  205. 

Bill,  Lieutenant.  11,  71.  277. 

v.  Biesenroth,  Major-Gen.,  70,  197. 

v.  Bischoffshausen,  Major  Gen., 

197,  269. 

v.  Block,  Colonel,  38,  110,  269, 
v.  Bockum,  Capt.,  187. 
v.  Bojatzky,  Colonel,  119. 
v.  Borbeck,  Colonel,  51,  175,  269. 
v.  Bork,  Colonel,  185.  192,  26!). 
v.  Borning,  Captain,  51. 
v.  Bose,  General,  162,  172,  198,  269. 
Braun,  General,  88. 
Braunsdorf,  Chaplain,  238. 
Brandenburg.  220. 
Brethauer,.  Lieut.-Colonel,  66,  258. 
Bremer,  Colonel,  162. 
Breymann,  Colonel,  87,  126,  131. 
Brisbon.  Commodore,  163. 


Brunhardt,  Lieutenant,  223. 
v.  Bunau,  Colonel,  269. 
Burmeister,  Captain,  11. 
Burgoyne(  General,  89, 125, 137,  235. 
Butler,  242. 
Byron,  Admiral,  161. 
Cadwalader.  General,  77. 
Campbell.  Major- General,  105. 
Carleton,  Gen.,  25.  125,  161,  232,  235. 
Carleton,  Major,  240. 
St.  Clair,  General.  127. 
v.  Cleve,  Major,  13,  244. 
Clinton,  J.,  General,  123. 
Clinton,  G.,  General,  123,  226. 
Clinton,  Sir  H.,  General,  25,  154. 
Collier.  Admiral,  174. 
Cornwallis,  Lord  General, 

29,  104,  184,  211. 
Cooper,  256. 
Corves,  Lieutenant,  240. 
Corvan,  Ensign,  187. 
v   Dahlstierna,  Captain,  146. 
van  Dassel,  78. 

v.  Dechow,  Major,  61,  76.  257. 
v.  Diemar,  Captain,  151,  274. 
v.  Diemar,  Lieutenant,  195. 
v.  Dieskau,  Major,  168. 
v.  Dincklage,  Major,  11,  107,  115, 

198,  282. 

Dohla,  14,  101,  190,  213,  266. 
v.  Donop,  General,  28. 
v.  Donop,  Captain,  34,  75,  161. 
v.  Donop,  Colonel,  105,  116,  270. 
v   Dornberg,  256. 
Dupuy,  Lieutenant,  113. 
Du  Puy,  Major,  193,  197,  201. 
Duplessis,  Captain,  119 
Ebenauer,  Lieutenant,  193, 
v.  Eckert,  Captain,  102,  123. 
v.  Ehreukrook,  Lt.  Col.,  126,  233,25. 


354 


Index. 


Eigenbrod,  Captain,  201. 
v.  Eitel,  Colonel,  270. 
Elbing,  Lieut.-Col.,  189. 
Emmerich,  Colonel,  73,  159,  227. 
v.  Ende,  Lieut.-Col.,  198. 
d'Estaing,  Admiral,  163,  175,  241. 
Ewald,  Captain,  45,  53,  75,  104,  158, 
176,  201,  209,  265. 
Ewing,. General,  77. 
v.  Eyb,  Colonel,  102. 
v.  Eyb,  Captain,  123. 
de  Fasquel,  266. 

Faucit,  W.,  Col.,  16,  88,  153,  258. 
Fichtelberger,  170. 
Fliess,  Lieutenant,  266,  288. 
Flockshaar,  Sergeant,  12. 
v.  Forstner,  Lieutenant,  113. 
Foy,  Lieutenant,  96. 
Franklin,  40. 
Fraser.  127. 
Frazer,  91. 

v.  Fredersdorf,  Captain,  134,  146. 
Gage,  General,  26. 
Galvez,  Don  B.,  221. 
v.  Gall,  Colonel,  89,  126,  133,  148. 
Gates,  General,  213. 
Gebhardt,  13. 
v.  Geisan,  Captain,  128. 
v.  Gerlach,  Captain,  128,  138. 
Germain,  Lord,  19,  107,  271. 
v.  Geyling,  Ensign,  146. 
Geyso,  Lieutenant,  201. 
v.  Gleisseuberg,  Captain,  132,  146. 
v.  Gneisenau,  256. 
Gogel,  Captain,  238. 
v.  Goren,  Lieutenant,  225. 
v.  Gosen,  Major-General,  197,  269. 
Grasse.  Admiral,  233. 
v.  Grammont,  Captain,  106. 
Granby.  33. 

Grant,  General,  32,  59,  64,  75,  114. 
Grant,  Colonel,  34. 
Grau,  Captain,  192. 
Greene,  Gen.,  28,  71,  165,  199,  213. 
Green,  Christopher,  Colonel,  117. 
Grenke,  Lieutenant,  27. 
Grey,  114. 

v.  Griesheim,  Captain,  52. 
Griffin,  Colonel,  77. 
v.  Grotbausen,  Lieutenant,  59,  70. 
v.  Hachenberg,  Major-General, 

193,  198,  269. 
Hacken,  Captain,  48. 


v.  Hacke,  Captain,  227. 

Haberlin,  Ensign,  241. 

Haldimand,  General,  239. 

v.  Hambach,  Captain,  240. 

Hand,  Colonel.  31. 

v.  Hanstein,  Major,  68,  188,  258. 

v.  Hanxleben,  Colonel.  47,  220. 

v.  Halzfeld,  Colonel,  231. 

Haugher,  Captain,  267. 

v.  Hayden,  Lieutenant,  214. 

Heath,  General,  144. 

v.  Heeringen, Colonel,  11,  30,  41,  258. 

v.  HeiBter,  Lt.-Gen.,  23  48,  270,  273. 

Heinrichs,  Captain   266. 

Henel,  Lieutenant,  12,  256. 

Henkelmaim,  Lieutenant,  12. 

Henndorf,  Ensign,  187. 

Heymel,  Lieutenant,  119. 

v.  Heymel,  Lieut. -Colonel,  186,  198. 

Hildebrand,  Lieutenant,  141. 

Hille,  Lieutenant,  119. 

v.  Hille,  248. 

Hofmann,  Captain,  218. 

Hohendorf,  Count,  275. 

v.  Hoheiastein,  Captain,  51. 

Holper,  102. 

Hopkins,  Major,  148. 

v.  Horn,  Colonel,  48.  110. 

v  Horn,  Major,  220,  222,  269. 

Hotham,  Admiral.  25,  219. 

Howe,  Lord  K.,  Admiral,  26. 

Howe,  G.,  Gen.,  26,  57,  82,  105,  271. 

Hugget,  Captain,  243. 

v.  Huyne,  General,  57,  183,  267. 

Jaritz,  Lieutenant,  238. 

John,  Colonel,  35. 

Johnson,  Major,  240. 

Kapp,  F.,  276. 

Keppenau,  Captain,  237. 

Kimm,  Lieutenant,  76. 

Kleinschmidt,  Lieutenant,  25. 

v.  Knoblauch,  Major-General,  198. 

v.  Knyphausen,  Lieut. -General, 

51,  158,  189,  232,  270. 
v.  Kochenhausen,  Lieut.-Col.,  106. 
Kohler,  51,  122. 
Kohler,  162. 

Kohler,  Lieut. -Colonel,  197,  270. 
Kohli,  Chaplain,  94. 
v.  Kospoth,  Gen.,  162,  183,  259,  269. 
v.  Kreutzburg,  Lieut. -Colonel, 

-    101,  133,  2:56,  243,  267. 
Kurtz,  Colonel,  162,  269. 


Index. 


355 


Lafayette,  General,  157,  165,  203. 

v.  Langen,  256. 

Lange,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  258. 

de  Lauzun,  Due,  210. 

Lee,  General.  50,  81. 

St.  Leger,  Colonel,  92. 

v.  Lengerke,  Colonel,  117. 

Leonhardt,  Lieutenant,  221. 

Leslie,  General,  40,  199. 

Lindenberger,  Lieutenant,  81. 

v.  Linsingen,  Lieutenant,  40,  113. 

v.  Linsingen,  Colonel,  117,  269. 

Lincoln,  General,  175,  184,  218. 

v.  d  Lippe,  Captain,  25. 

Littehau,  Lieutenant,  238. 

v.  Loos,  Colonel,  106,  185,  192. 

v.  Lorey,  Captain,  40,  173. 

v.  Lossberg,  General,  35,  167,  193, 

198,  233. 

Lotheisen,  11,  113,  260. 
v.  Loweustein,  Lieut.-Colonel,  188. 
Lucke,  Major,  247. 
Magraw,  Colonel,  51. 
Mahlburger,  Captain,  13,  154. 
v.  Maiborne,  Major,  251. 
v.  d.  Malsburg,  Captain,  11,  44,  164, 

198. 

Martin,  Captain,  12,  63,  277. 
Massereau,  145. 
Mathaus,  Major,  12,  62,  277. 
Mathias,  Major,  258. 
Maxwell,  General,  110. 
v.  Medern,  51. 
Melzheimer,  Chaplain,  13. 
v.  Mengen,  Lieut.  Colonel,  148,  251. 
Mertz,  Lieutenant,  161 , 
de  Messey,  266. 
v.  Minnigerode,  Colonel,  38,  106, 

177,  269. 

v.  Mirbach.  General,  32,  197,  270. 
Mirabeau,  276. 
v.  Mohring,  Lieutenant,  238. 
Moller,  Lieutenant,  188. 
v.  Molitor,  Lieutenant,  168. 
v.  Molitor,  Captain,  168. 
Montgomery,  96. 
Montluisant,  266. 
Morgan,  General,  199. 
Mlihlenberg,  General,  214. 
v.  Mtinchhausen,  Captain,  11,  50. 
Muravius,  Lieutenant.  167. 
Naumann,  Chaplain,  238. 
Noltenius,  Captain,  167. 


Noltin,  Ensign,  221. 

North.  Lord,  265. 

v.  Ochs,  General,  18,  113,  122,  157. 

Ochs.  A.  L..  Lieutenant,  266. 

v.  Offenbach,  Lieutenant,  119. 

Oliva,  Chaplain,  187. 

Pahmer,  Lieutenant,  238. 

Pakendorff,  Dr.,  238. 

v.  Papet.  Major,  14,  38,  240. 

Parker,  Admiral,  24,  161. 

Patterson,  General,  196. 

Pauli,  Captain,  12,  277. 

Pauly,  Major,  34. 

v.  Pausch,  Captain,  93. 

Pentzel,  Major,  48,  222. 

Percy.  Lord,  30,  58. 

Peters,  Colonel,  131. 

Pfister,  Major,  255,  265. 

Phillips,  General,  89. 

Pigot,  Genera],  163. 

v.  Piquet,  Major,  237. 

v.  Plessen,  Captain,  240. 

Powell,  96. 

Pratorius,  Lieut.-Colonel,  87,  240. 

Prescot,  General,  81,  168. 

v.  Pruschenk,  Major,  101,  196,  227, 

265. 

Pulaski,  157. 
Putnam,  General,  33,  77. 
Quesnoy,  Captain,  260. 
v.  Rail,  Colonel,  32,  51,  70,  258.  269, 

276. 

Rathmann,  Ensign,  188. 
Rau,  Captain,  174,  206,  227. 
v.  Rauchhaupt,  General,  225. 
v.  Rauschenplatt,  Colonel,  237. 
v.  Ranzau,  Captain,  13. 
Raynai,  Abbe,  276. 
Recknagel,  Caspar,  13. 
Reineking,  Lieutenant,  253. 
v.  Reitzenstein,  Major,  169. 
Reuber,  Corporal,  13,  64,  82. 
v.  Rhetz,  Colonel,  126. 
v.  Riedesel  zu  Eysenbach,  Maj.-Gen., 
13,  49,  87,  126,  226,  247,  262,  271. 
v.  Riedesel,  Madame,  140. 
v.  Riess,  Colonel,  12,  257. 
Riese,  Captain,  76. 
Riemann,  Lieutenant,  119. 
de  Rochambeau,  Due.  249. 
v.  Roder,  Captain,  195. 
Rodney,  Admiral,  233. 
Rogers,  Lieut.-Colonel,  44. 


356 


Index. 


Romstadt.  Captain.  100. 

Rosenberg,  Captain,  240. 

Riibenkonig,  Sergeant,  228. 

Ruff,  Captain,  240. 

Riiffer,  Lieutenant,  13,  36. 

Saarbrlick  Z\veibrUekeu,Prince,212. 

Sackville.  L'^rd,  19. 

v   Schaffer,  Lieut  -Colonel,  12,  198. 

Schaffer,  Lieutenant,  227. 

Schaffer,  Captain.  260. 

v.  Schallern    Captain,  167.  174. 

v.  Schaumhurg,  Count,  275. 

v.  Scheffer,  Lieut.-Col.,  64,257,276. 

Scheiter,  Lieut. -Colonel,  88. 

Scheither,  Corporol,  14. 

v.  Schiok,  Lieut. -Colonel,  106,  119. 

v.  Schill,  Captain,  244. 

v.  Schlagenteuffel,  Capt.,  132,  240. 

v.  Schlamtnersdorf,  Colonel,  225. 

v.  Schlieffen,  19. 

v.  Schlieffen,  General,  257,  273. 

Schmidt,  51. 

v.  Schmidt,  Major-Gen.,  197,  270. 

v.  Scholl,  Captain,  245. 

Schopf.  Dr.,  169,  184 

Schottelius,  Captain,  128. 

Schreiber,  Colonel,  269. 

Schreyvogel,  Lieut.  Col.,  107. 

v.  Schuchhardt,  Lieutenant.  207. 

v.  Schiller,  Colonel.  197. 

v.  Schiiler,  v-.  Sendeu,  Geu.,  13.  130. 

Schuler.  13. 

Schwabe,  Lieutenant,  76. 

Schwaner,  Lieutenant,  201. 

v.  Schwarzburg-Soudershausen, 

Prince,  238. 
Scott,  Colonel,  42. 
v.  Seitz,  Captain.  122.  169. 
v.  Seitz,  Lieutenant,  161. 
Seitz,  Major,  193. 
v.  3eyboth,  Colonel,  213,  261. 
Sippel,  Sergeant,  205. 
Spangenberg,  Lieutenant,  132. 
v.  Specht,  Colonel.  13,  126. 
v.  Specht,  Captain,  134. 
v.  Speth,  Lieut.-Col.,  87,  91,  139. 

146,  241. 

v.Stamford,  Captain,  117. 
Stark,  Colonel,  131 
Steding,  Captain,  63,  188. 
Sternickel,  Lieutenant.  71 
v.  Steuben.  General,  158,  203. 
Steuernagel,  14,  220. 


Stirling,  General,  32,  105,  179. 

v.  Stiru,  Major-General,  29,  270. 

Stirn,  114. 

Stoclen,  Captain,  239. 

Strubberg,  Lieutenant,  225. 

Skene,  Major,  131. 

Suffolk,  Lord,  19. 

Sullivan,  General,  77.  165. 

v   Tannenburg,  Captain,  190. 

Tarletou.  Colonel,  198. 

Taylor,  Captain,  188 

Thoma,  Captain,  240. 

Trautvetter,  Captain,  113. 

v.  Trott,  Lieutenant,  201. 

v.  Trumbach,  Lieutenant,  113. 

Tryon,  General,  174.  260. 

Tunderfeld,  Captain,  13. 

Udell,  General.  33. 

v.  Uechtritz,  110 

Valentin.  General.  255. 

Vaughn,  General,  173 

Vierermal,  Lieutenant,  238. 

Villet,  Colonel,  252 

v.  Voight,  Colonel,  101. 

Wagner,  Chaplain.  260. 

Wagner,  Captain,  119,  167. 

Wahl.  65. 

Waldeck,  Chaplain,  14,  122,  222 

Waldeck,  Ensign,  188. 

Waldschmidt,  Ensign,  187. 

v.  Wangenheim,  Colonel,  117,  266. 

Washington,  71,  213. 

Wayne,  General,  111,  174,  213. 

Weedon,  Colonel,  79. 

Weiss,  Captain   239. 

v.  Weissenfels,  Colonel,  142. 

v.  Weitersheim,  Major,  225,  257. 

v.  Wester nhagen,  Captain,  114. 

Wiederhold.  Capt.,  61,  79,  186,  193. 

v.  Wilmowsky,  Captain,  201 

v.  Wintersheina,  Captain,  238. 

v.  Winzingerode,  Lieutenant,  177. 

Wolwarth,  155. 

Woodhull,  33 

v.  Wreden,  Captain,  40,  110,  265. 

v.  Wurmb,  Colonel,  40,  110,  114, 

192,  227,  265. 

v.  Wurmb,  Lieutenant,  119,  188. 
v.  Wurmb,  Major  Gen.,  197,  265. 
v.  York,  256. 
v.  Zeugen,  Ensign,  188. 
v.  Zielberg,  Captain,  240. 
Zoll,  Lieutenant,  37,  76,  187. 


II.    INDEX  OF  PLACES. 


Albany,  50,  92,  129,  242,  252. 
Amboy,  103. 
Anhault-Zerbst,  18,  153. 
Ansbach  Bayreuth,  18,  98. 
Ansbach,  101,  153. 
Ashley  River,  179. 
Assanpink,  the,  60,  77. 
I'Assomption,  246. 

Baltimore,  81. 
Bayreuth,  101. 
Bedford,  28,  177. 
Bergin  Point  52. 
Besancourt,  248. 
Berthier,  236,  246,  251. 
Bethlehem,  150. 
Black  Point,  163. 
Bloomingdale.  38,  197. 
Bordentown,  54  59. 
Boston,  26,  143. 
Bound  Brook.  104. 
Brandywine,  the,  110. 
Bremen,  24.  48 
Brenton's  Neck.  163. 
Brooklyn,  28.  226,  234. 
Brooklyn  Heights,  28. 
Bronx  River,  44. 
Brunswick,  18,  53,  88,  262. 
Burlington,  54,  60. 
Bush  wick,  37,  42. 

Cambridge,  143. 

Canada,  27,  89,  125,  185,  235,551,271 

Cape  Charles,  109.  229. 

Carleton  Island,  223. 

Carolina,  24,  219. 

Cassel,  20,  153,  231,  260. 

Catawba,  the,  199. 


Chadd's  Ford,  110. 

f'hambly,  92. 

Champlain  Parish,  240 

Charleston,  162,  175,  199,  233. 

Charlottesville,  149. 

Chateaugay.  248. 

Chatham,  260. 

Chesapeake  Bay,  81,  109,  207,  229. 

Chester,  111. 

Chestnut  Hill,  121. 

Church  Bridge,  179. 

Cliffs,  the,  223. 

Conanicut,  158 

Connecticut,  43. 

Connecticut,  the,  249. 

Cooper  River,  180. 

Cork,  241. 

Cowpens,  199. 

Crown  Point,  92,  126. 

Cumberland  Head,  126. 

Darmstadt,  266. 

Delaware,  the,  53.  156,  272. 

Delaware  Bay,  186. 

Dil  worth,  110. 

Dobbs'  Ferry,  160,  227. 

Dover,  260. 

Draw  Creek,  60. 

Dumfries,  81. 

East  Chester,  44,  172. 

East  River  28,  36,  54,  195. 

East  River  (Seconset),  163. 

Edge  Hill,  121. 

Elbe,  the,  88. 

Elizabeth,  53,  104,  122,  193. 

Elk,  109. 


Index. 


Fair-field,  174. 

Fal mouth,  82. 

Fisbkill,  148. 

Flatbush,  28. 

Fleur  de  Hundred,  202. 

Florida,  18.  251. 

Flushing,  37. 

Fogland  Ferry,  164. 

Fort  St.  Anna,  129. 

Fort  Carillon,  127. 

Fort  Chain bly,  95. 

Fort  Clinton,  123,  172. 

Fort  Dalrymple,  42. 

Fort  Edward,  129,  133. 

Fort  St.  George,  54. 

Fort  George,  129,  222. 

Fort  Independence,  50,  127,  160. 

Fort  Johnstone,  178. 

Fort  St.  John,  178. 

Fort  Knyphauseu,  52. 

Fort  Lee,  50. 

Fort  Mercer,  117. 

Fort  Miffliu,  116. 

Fort  Miller,  131. 

Fort  Montgomery,  123,  172. 

Fort  Moultrie,  181. 

Fort  Niagara,  242,  252. 

Fort  Stanwix,  92,  130,  141. 

Fort  Ticonderoga,  127. 

Fort  Waldeck,  222. 

Fort  Washington,  44,  50,  60. 

Frederick,  214 

Fredericksburg,  82,  214. 

Frederick  Springs,  150. 

French  Village,  223. 

Frogs  Neck,  43. 

Georgia,  151,  220,  234. 
Germantown,  114,  155. 
Gibraltar,  16. 
Gloucester,  206. 
Gowan's  Bay,  28. 
Gowan's  Pass,  39. 
Gravesend,  29. 
Great  Island,  96. 
Greenwich,  197. 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  247. 

Hackensack,  190. 
Haddonfield,  158. 
Halifax,  26,  161,  231,  241,  250. 
Hamilton's  Ferry,  178. 
Eampton,  214. 


Hanau,  225,  239. 

Harlem,  38. 

Hartford,  249. 

Havannah,  90. 

Heligate,  37. 

Hesse-Cassel,  18,  98. 

Hesse-Hanau,  18. 

Hillsborough,  199. 

Holland,  274. 

Holstein,  266. 

Horen's  Hook,  39,  63. 

Hudson,  the,  30,  52,  92, 101, 171,  190. 

Isle  Orleans,  246. 
Isle  aux  Noix,  93,  243. 

Jamaica,  219. 
James  Island,  178. 
James  River,  206. 
Jericho,  197. 
Jersey,  52 
John's  Island,  178, 
Johnson's  Ferry,  62. 

King's  Bridge,  38,  123,  159, 171,  190. 
Kips  Bay,  38. 
Konigshagen,  210. 

Lake  Champlain,  126,  244. 

Lake  Erie,  248. 

Lake  George,  139. 

Lake  St.  Peter,  240. 

Lancaster,  81.  149,  216. 

La  Prairie,  93.  244. 

Little  Egg  Harbour,  187. 

London,  239. 

Long  Island,  27,  79,  158,  189,  230 

Louisiana,  221.  [261. 

Maidenhead,  64. 
Manhattan  Island,  37. 
Marfnaroneck,  44. 
Maryland,  211. 
Massachusetts,  253. 
Masquinonge,  240. 
Mecklenburg,  98. 
Millerstown,  82. 
Minden,  19. 
Mississippi,  the,  220. 
Mobile.  219, 
Mohawk,  the,  92,  133. 
Morris'  Heights,  39. 
Morristown,  189. 


Index. 


359 


Mount  Holly,  75. 
Monmouth  County,  78. 
Montreal,  91.  236,  241,  246. 
Mud  Island,  116. 

Narrows,  the,  28. 
Narragansett  Bay,  163. 
Neck,  the,  121. 
Newark,  110. 
New  Brunswick,  59. 
Newbury,  149. 
New  Castle,  120. 
New  England,  240. 
Newfoundland,  253 
New  Frankfort,  82. 
New  Hampshire,  128. 
New  Haven,  174. 
New  Jersey.  57.  189,  192,  272. 
New  Orleans,  225. 
Newport,  57,  156.  169,  249. 
New  Rochelle,  44. 
Newtown,  37,  78. 

New  York,  28,  54,  92,  159,  174, 184, 
225,  232,  247. 
Norfolk,  174. 
North  Carolina,  199. 
Norwalk.  174. 
Nova  Scotia,  259. 

Orange,  52. 
Oriskany.  133. 
Osuabruck,  19. 
Oswego,  92,  248. 

Paulus  Hook,  174. 

Peekskill,  149. 

Pells'  Neck,  49. 

Pennsylvania,  211. 

Pennington  Hill,  60. 

Penobscot,  252. 

Pensacola,  218. 

Perdido,  the.  222. 

Pfaltz,  the,  73. 

Philadelphia,  80,  105,  155,  188,  234, 

Plymouth,  89,  177.  26<>.  [253. 

Portsmouth,  24,  48,  88, 174,  202,  247, 

Point  au  Per,  95.  248.  12QO. 

Point  du  Lac,  240. 

Point  Levi,  250. 

Point  Judith,  163. 

Potomac,  81. 

Princeton,  53.  60,  64,  184. 

Providence,  57,  164. 


Prudence  Island,  57. 
Purisburg,  179. 

Quebec,  24,  89,  192,  236,  241,  262. 

Randolph  Creek,  179. 
Rappahannock,  the,  82. 
Raritan  Landing,  104. 
Reading,  188. 
Red  Bank,  116. 
Redwood  Hili,  166. 
Ree"y  Island,  117. 
Rhode  Island.  57,  159,  227. 
Richmond,  201. 
Richelieu,  the,  97. 
Riviere  la  Colle.  95,  251. 
Riviere  du  Loup,  240. 
Russia,  153. 

Sachse  Gotha,  98. 

Sachuest  Beach,  163. 

Salisbury,  148. 

Sandy  Hook,  24.  159,  176,  186 

Savannah,  93,  162. 

Savannah  River,  175. 

Schuylkill,  the,  121,  155. 

Shelter  Island,  58. 

Simon's  Island,  177. 

Skenesborough,  129. 

Skippack  Creek,  114. 

Sorel,  95,  236,  251. 

South  Carolina.  27,  175,  184 

Springfield,  193,  249. 

Suffolk,  174,  206. 

Sugar  Hill.  128. 

Sullivan's  Island,  180. 

Stade,  94,  239. 

Staten  Island,  26,  184,  195,  229. 

Stauntou,  82 

Stillwater,  129. 

Stony  Point,  123,  172. 

Stono  Ferry.  162,  178. 

Stowentown,  82. 

Stuyvesaut's  Cove,  38. 

Switzerland,  153. 

St.  Anna,  246 

St.  Antoine,  251. 

St.  Charles,  251. 

St.  Culbert,  240. 

St,  Dennis,  251. 

St.  Francois,  251. 

St.  Francis  243 

St.  Hyacinthe,  240. 


36° 


Index. 


St.  Ives,  177. 

St.  John,  244. 

St. 'Johns,  93. 

St.  Lawrence,  the,  97,  243. 

St.  Sulpice,  251. 

St.  Valier,  246. 

Tammany  Hill,  165 
Tarry  town,  160. 
Terrebonne,  286. 
Three  Rivers,  b9. 
Ticonderoga,  92. 
Trenton,  53,  58,  186,  272. 
Trois  Riviere?,  97,  236,  252. 
TurtleBay,  38 
Tybee  Island,  176. 

Utrecht,  30. 

Valentine's  Hill   44. 
Valley  Forge,  122. 
Vnurenil   240. 
Vergeres.  92,  248. 
Vermont,  248. 
Verplanck's  Point,  172. 


Versailles,  234. 

Virginia,  ]49,  174,  186,  211,  227. 

Waldau,  100. 
Waldeck,  18,  47. 
Wallabout  Bay,  30 
Waugeroge,  225. 
Weissenfels,  339. 
Weser,  225. 

Westchester  County,  43,  190. 
Whitemarsh,  121,  155. 
White  Plains,  44,  60,  159. 
Wilmington,  114.  120. 
Williamsburg,  204. 
Windmill  Hill.  163. 
Winchester,  181,  214. 
Winter  Hill,  143. 
Wolfenbtittel,  82. 
Wtirtemberg,  98. 

Yorktown,  206. 
York  River,  206. 

Zerbst,  ?38. 


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